October had come like a ghost and the air had turned chilly almost overnight. Honey hadn't yet gotten his thick woolen coat from the trunk so all he had was a thin jacket to wrap around him as he made his way down to the gambling den. When he was younger, he and his brother were always getting into trouble with their ma for fleecing the village kids with gambling. Many a time she would haul them both up by the ear and holler at them till she was blue in the face and they would have to return all the money and trinkets they had won from betting. He smiled, wondering what foul words would be aimed his way if she knew he was hiding away in illegal dens, trying to scrape up funds and information for the task he and Ham were undertaking. 

This particular place had someone who could get him in contact with Georgia, the woman who had taken their sister after her mother and sisters had died of the flu. It was a long shot, but it was the only lead he'd gotten in this dingy town. The parlor was dark and dingy and smelled of dried beer and stale cigars as he made his way in. Towards the back were the craps tables and he was fairly adept at tossing dice so that's where he went to kill time until his contact arrived. 

An hour in and a stack of money had gotten him more than a few looks, most of them quite dirty, and a small crowd had begun to gather near the table to watch him play. On a more modest bet, another player sidled up to the table, placing down a sizable bet on the table, Honey raised an eyebrow in admiration and signaled that this would be his last bet of the evening. After the dice had fallen, he collected his winnings, pocketing them in his jacket as he turned to find the person he was looking for. He was keenly aware that the other person at the table had turned and was following him. He paused and so did they so he tipped his head in the direction of the bar, beckoning them to follow. Two shots of whiskey on the counter gave them the perfect opportunity to chat. 

"How can I help you this evening?"

Watching the man, Gerry knew a high roller by the way the man had swaggered in. He held himself well, and he could see the man had a confidence that most men didn't. So watching him that entire time he played his game, it was interesting and so this is where he found himself now, a glass of whiskey in front of him and the man asking him an easy question. 

"You're a high roller and not many people come in here with a stack of cash. Most here are chumps looking for change. I wonder if you're looking to make more than a stack, hopefully. We have a little operation running out here in Detroit, bigger than this."

He hinted ever so slightly, tossing back the shot, Gerry wasn't a talker, but he had learned that working with hiss boss, Romulus. Picking up a few tricks here and there were easy, it was the execution that he needed to work and the way his gruff voice played out, it probably didn't work so well with the man. 

"My boss, he's sitting over there, name's Romulus but people call him Rom. He doesn't like Romulus because it says it makes him sound high and mighty, along with the fact it sounds like it's in space..."

Gerry nodded to Rom sitting in the corner, making sure that this kid knew who he was. 

"Name's Gerry, I'm his personal bodyguard, what's your name kid? Also, would you like to meet him? Have a little chat, see what he can do for you, eh?"

A pointedly forced smile on his lips, Gerry made sure that the kid understood his meaning. Anything he had that needed to be taken care of, he could assist, however the way this kid's eyes searched the den, he was looking for someone..."

This was already going to be quite interesting, Gerry knocked back his drink of whiskey, maybe he would prove to be a worthwhile investment for them.

Honey pondered for a moment, the glass of whiskey still poised in front of his face though he hadn't yet taken it. He knew beckoning the man over was, in of itself, a gamble but it had the payoff he was glad to hear. Throwing back the shot with a straight face, he gently set the glass on the counter and looked back in the direction that Gerry was indicating. Indeed, another gentleman sat in the corner eyeing him up, seeing if they would prove to be a good fit. 

He wasn't the fellow he had planned on meeting, but when did things every fully work out the right way? At the moment, both he and his brother had come to a standstill in dealing with their father's affairs and very few people were kind or welcoming to two young men with thick Scottish brogues. It seemed like must of the work they had been picking up had ties to rather illicit affairs and this new opportunity appeared to be following in that vein. 

"Honey, my name is Honey. I wouldnae mind meeting your employer. Anything I need to know before we head over?" He was guarded, his words deliberately cagey though not defensive. He wanted Gerry to know that he was on his guard but willing to work as long as it was in his favor in the end. 

Chuckling, he wondered what he could say to Honey before he met his boss. Rom was many things, but he had a strange streak of being this guardian angel, someone who wishes to take on problems for the sake of making himself seem like this bastion of hope for people.

"He's an odd one and talking to him should show you that much, but he's kept me in his employ for a solid few weeks. It's been one of the better choices I've made in my time here in the states."

Showing off his slight accent, being from Ireland was many things but the fact that some jobs weren't open to him due to his Irish ancestry. Well, it hadn't exactly warmed him up to the Italians wandering through the streets of Detroit like they owned the joint.

"He's a good guy that has a sense of justice but is willing to skew that to help his friends, overall, he's someone you want on your side. Plus, he makes for great conversation and doesn't bother with personal questions all that much."

Snickering to himself then, he motioned the bartender for a bottle of scotch. His boss was seemingly in a foul mood due to some business that was going south in a hurry, with a little smirk in Honey's direction. 

"You ready to meet the man himself?"

Not waiting for an answer, Gerry let the man collect himself. Tapping the counter top before walking back to his boss, Rom, who rose a brow at him only getting a wink in response.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Honey said in his thick Hebridean accent. He squared his shoulders and followed Gerry to the table, nodding in agreement over the choice in drink. True scotch was thick and honey coloured, smooth and buttery if aged correctly. American whisky was lighter and not as deep in flavor but it was still decent overall. Great progress had been made since their prohibition era and the availability of more commercialized travel had opened up more opportunities to utilize the materials that seemed bountiful in the country but it still couldn't hold a candle to a true scotch. 

As custom, once they reached the table, Honey waited to be introduced before he even dared to take a seat. He knew enough of the rules of the world to understand that decorum and respect were vital to the survival of anybody involved. The scene was dominated by Italian immigrants with thick accents and large egos and outsiders like the Irish and Scottish had a hard time overcoming the deep rooted prejudice that seemed to follow them. He couldn't deny that his heart was pounding from meeting a leader of a rival from the same city but Gerry's wink seemed to settle him slightly. 

"Good afternoon sir, My name is H...er Robert. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Rom smiled, noticing that Gerry had seemingly spoken to the guy, getting a feel for him. Gerry had never brought anyone over that wasn't really all there for them, the guard had proven to be a great, well, assistance to him in terms of getting new people on board for them. Motioning for the bottle of scotch, he got two glasses and poured them each one, letting the liquid filling the glass fill the silence that was hanging between them in their own little corner of the gambling den. 

"It's nice to meet you, Robert, no sirs or anything of that sort. I'm just a regular guy whose making money out here like everyone else, it seems you made quite the storm, you always do this in some places you play in?"

It was a genuine question, there was always signs to how someone played. Even in real life, gambling always revealed someone's mind set and some people loved to take the big risk. Yet, there was the cautious players, those who waited until they had an assured sense of victory. Yet sometimes, even those kinds of plays had risks. 

"I have to say, there is a certain thrill in playing the way you do. It's interesting, you never really know how the dice will roll. It's interesting, you certainly have an air about you, it's an intoxicating one."

Grinning, Rom could see the man was cautious currently, he didn't seem to know what to call himself. As if talking to an authoritative figure changed the way he acted on the streets, in the gambling dens. He had seen this effect before, one that Newt_Scamander had back in Knick Knackers Bar, he commanded a room without stating a single word. 

Was he doing the same thing? No, he wasn't even near that level yet. He knew that wasn't going to be anything he was doing soon enough, so he allowed Robert to calm himself down and hopefully seat himself, so they could talk about business. The man had something, there was something that pulled Rom to talk with him a little more.

"Have a seat, Robert, talk to me, what brings you to the gambling dens besides making a little money?"

Honey seemed to relax, bot definitely not in a subservient way. He knew when to keep his guard up and when to let it down and within moments his whole body language had changed. Gracious as ever, he sat only when given the approval to, crossing his leg by propping his ankle on his knee. It was, like many of his other behaviors, a calculated risk that, if played right, would have the payoff he was seeking. To anyone else, perhaps they might seem like old friends, to Rom, however, it was a power play. He was asserting his own presence and telling the man in front of him that he was a force to be reckoned with. It wasn't a challenge of power, but of equality. 

He watched as Rom poured a generous dram into the glass and reached out when it was offered to take the proffered drink. He swirled it, the amber liquid inside sticking slightly to the glass before webbing away to join the rest. The smell and taste brought him back to peaceful moments on the heather, talking with his brother as they imagined what life would have been like had their father stayed. He took a sip and put the cup down again with purpose, leaning forward slightly to close the conversation a bit to the rest of the underground casino. 

"Frankly, I'm not one to gamble on the regular, at least not in places like this. Much of my experience with it comes from the schoolyard if I'm being honest with you. The risk part, however, that's much more common. I came here today because I'm currently undertaking a personal project and it requires more money than I currently have. I must say that the thrill of the gambling is what kept me far longer than I should have stayed. It seems that I garnered a little more attention than I expected as well, though it doesn't seem to be all bad. Tell me though, what inspired that attention to reach out? Surely you have more of a reason that admiration alone."

He flashed a smirk and reached for the scotch again, taking a healthy sip without so much as even a shudder as he awaited Rom's next move. 

And this is where he had a slight stoppage, the way he sized him up, the way he easily measured him and then spoke without a single stutter in his tone. This man knew how to play himself, he knew how to hold himself and boy was it interesting. Surely this was something that was going go further, for a moment, he shared a look with Gerry, who shook his head. 

Sighing, his fingers coiled together ground the glass for a moment. Releasing a single breath, he calmed himself down and found himself with a false smile. Business always seemed to go a bit slower, around here, so he really needed some help, looking at the man, maybe he could help, but he would see. 

"We all have a bit of experience with the game of gambling, sometimes we're taking a cut and others, we'll be having our monies taken from us. It's a matter of how we wield our cash to either improve our game or, we start a little game of ourselves, we begin to show our business strategy, we start our den, and we make money that way. Less, but stable and it proves to be a use of funds in the end."

It was the truth and Rom spoke from experience, he had been on the receiving of bad dice games and now he had his own game, his own way of making more cash than he knew what to do with it. Hiring more people to work with him, it never seemed like a bad idea at first but like now, he had been waiting too long now, and he was getting pissed. 

"You're in need of money, hence why you came here, I suppose? Now that's certainly interesting, I could have something for you. If you're interested to say the least, it involves a lot of...running per se."

A playful smile at his lips was all that he needed as he leaned forward, now taking a sip of the scotch, not showing his grimace but the taste was never his favourite. For a moment, he wished to wash it down with something sweet but for now, he could handle it.

"I have a reason, you gamble, you have a way of being a bit more aware than you let on. You have your code and clearly you have manners to wait to be asked to sit down. You have a clear way of reading people, it's certainly interesting, I want to offer you a position with me...something that could give you more than enough money to settle...your personal affairs."

Now his lips were clearly in a smirk, letting him know that this was a serious offer, one that he could not accept. Yet, even Rom had a feeling that wasn't even close to being an option for the man...

Honey smirked, sipping the rest of the scotch in his glass. He mulled it over for a moment before carefully leaning forward and placing it meaningfully on the desk. Rom was good, he was charismatic and seemed to command respect from the men who hung around him. As everything that carried a risk, there was always the chance that something or, many things, could go wrong, but it could also to prove lucrative and favorable for the both of them. 
 

Still, he never liked to show his hand too early in the game, even if he’d been made. He had learned early to have blank poker face and deliberately misled others with false tells which worked in his favor most of the time. He seemed reckless even though his actions were anything but. carefully he pushed the glass forward, his smirk turned steely. 
 

“As you’ve seen, I’m fairly decent at fending for myself. I’ve more than enough for personal endeavors right now if I were to stop and walk away so tell me what makes your offer one I can’t refuse. What is so compelling about entering into the gambling scene as a business owner that would make lol my dreams come true and not tie me down to one place? What are the risks associated with it and, further more, what are the assurances against those risks? It’s tempting, it really is, but there’s not enough motivation yet to move me beyond being tempted. Change my mind.”

"I'm not talking about gambling, Robert. I'm talking about a bigger game than you and me, it's bigger than the government at times. It has influences over the society of the chosen as well. I currently head one of the biggest distribution chains in the six cities, I'm offering you a spot of being one of my key lieutenants in this business."

Chuckling, he did find himself beginning to like the young man, he was...special. The way he combated his words, he wasn't easily swayed but Rom wasn't going to be fooled. He could see the interest in his eyes, nothing was getting away from him now. 

"It's not tying you down to one place either, you'd be all over the place. You'd have resources to spare, you could take care of those personal affairs. You'd have men at your command, you'd be bigger than a militia, possibly. At the tip of your fingers, you could assassinate a mayor himself or maybe the president. The power my organization wields is next to world-class, Robert."

Maybe he was being a bit too much there, yet he knew the way these men wielded power. Yet the way it worked here, the way the smooth words had worked were always something that he would never forget. Taking his drink, he sipped it once again, letting the pause linger for a moment.

"Of course, that's not all. You'd be making money, more money than you could ever make in these gambling dens. The risks, death, above all. Other risks, imprisonment. This business as a whole, the one you're obviously in right now, is dangerous. How we die is not up to us, we could live peacefully and die of a mugging. We could live like gangsters and die of a heart attack. The only thing that matters about life, is how we enjoy it."

Rom felt that was the truth of the matter, his life was justified, how he made money and how he became a known figure in the world of gangsters and players of the game. It didn't matter to anyone else but him, he wished to live life, and he was doing exactly that. 

"The assurances is protection from other organizations that would wish to slaughter you like an animal. The other assurance is less jail time, we have a way with the coppers out here. They understand that we are protecting the streets of Detroit from the likes of petty criminals looking to make a quick buck. If you think about it, we're the heroes."

A chuckle escaped him then, truly, he found it a funny moment. In a world like theirs, the coppers looked at them like they were the saviours. It was something else that just made him smile like a kid getting a new toy. 

"So tell me, Robert. The benefits outweigh the risks, you're adored as a hero and you have the resources to take care of personal matters. If you come to assist me in my own, you're a valuable person to me and I'm willing to help you right now. Let me do that, eh?"

With that, Rom raised his glass to the man opposite him as he took a sip in cheers.

Honey's eyes narrowed when Rom used his name in such a pointed way, fighting his urge to glare at the man who sat across from him. Of course Rom had no idea that he usually went by his childhood nickname of Honey as he hadn't told him that it was practically the only name he went by. He had, of course, introduced himself as Robert for formalities but it sounded so terse coming from Rom. 

He made sure to pay attention to what was being said, realizing that the terseness was rather thickly veiled enthusiasm. He was trying to pique Honey's interest without making it seem like he was chomping at the bit to have Honey join him in, what he was proposing to be, a much more lucrative endeavor than previously stated. Of course, he was getting a bit carried away and Honey smirked, knowing that he had Rom as much where he wanted him as Rom thought he had Honey. Like two spiders on the same web, each feeling the vibrations of another creature but avoiding all the traps and sticky spots that could hold them fast, they were completing a neat dance around each other to accomplish the same goal. 

He sat back, folding his hands neatly as he smirked. He could appreciate what Rom was saying, acknowledging that the other man had found what he said to be genuinely amusing. It was true that, in his limited experience with the world of crime, the police force seemed to be neatly in the pockets of the organized crime scene. It wasn't all bad he mused, he had often seen some of these men do some of the most altruistic actions in helping small businesses and people who were in dire straits. Still, it was a world that, ultimately, was deemed as criminal and so it was fascinating to see the police look the other way so thoroughly. Could he really get away with what Rom was proposing? 

The wheels were turning and he sat in a few moments of pensive silence. He needed absolute assurance that this was what was needed. He looked over towards a dark corner where a tall lanky figure stood. He was hardly noticeable, blending in perfectly to the wall behind him which was practically the same charcoal gray as the man's suit and hat. The figure nodded in approval, indicating that he was willing to have Honey seal the deal and work with Rom. Honey returned his piercing gaze to Rom and gave the same affirming nod to him. 

"I believe we have a deal. Though if we're to work together, you'll have to get used to calling me Honey. Robert is my Christian name and there's little here I could consider Godly." 

He had stalled, for what? Rom didn't know, and he didn't exactly feel all bubbly at the prospect. Yet he knew when someone played the game, he waited for something and who? Rom wouldn't know, the place was crowded and people played a game everywhere. Looking at him, meeting his eyes, he had to wonder if there was a second agenda to all of this.

Trading a small look with Gerry, it wouldn't have been unnoticeable, it was there. The look said it and all Gerry gave was the barest of shrugs, for the slight movement. He wished to believe that Honey had simply wished to make money, yet the way he played his game and barely said words for a movement, as to SEEM like he was thinking. All of it played into another party, one that had a hand with Honey and at the moment, Rom didn't know how to proceed. 

"A deal? That should be one of the many things that you arrange in your time, calling you Honey, you said? Well that's certainly going to draw a look from certain crowds but I doubt they would care to question you. Oh, trust me, what we're going to be doing, is hardly godly or doing his work."

That mischievous grin, one that seemingly held a little more than he was giving away. He reached inside his coat pocket, giving the man an address, it held the location of a few of his businesses. Some that would make sure to give the man a small glance into what he would be getting into, he would need to know. 

"Good to know that you...warmed around to working with us. Now that right there is the location of The Tops Casino, one of the few places where I'll be showing you how things work. From there, we can proceed and I can show you the ropes..."

Rom did wonder how the man would work with this, how he could deal with moving product like the rest of his partners. Some of them did well and easily enjoyed the money, yet he was the one that saw more of the bloody truth. He kept them away they would make money and simply be the rainmakers in all of this. 

Rom knew that he could handle the cartels and what was to come, whatever came, he would handle...for now, he raised the glass in a final cheers to Honey, maybe he and the man would come to an understanding. One that didn't end in him being suspicious of the young man. 

"Welcome to the business, Honey. It should be a pleasure to work with you and see exactly how you work with us, cheers, to the future..."

With that, Rom allowed himself a smirk, one that spoke of his promising estimation desire for the future of his growing business. One thing that would forever keep him occupied...and at that moment, he didn't actually care for an end, he just wished to enjoy, for as long as he could.

"Wouldn't be the first time certain looks were exchanged over my particular nickname but, frankly, I don't care to correct them. People's opinions often cause them to gloss over even the worst offenses if they feel the position one holds is lofty enough."

He was, of course, referring to a certain measure of corruption at the hands of both the police force and other stations that seemed to take advantage of their shining reputations to be wholly disreputable under the shiny white washing. His nickname had garnered him several knowing or offended glances from incensed goody goodies who had even made it a point to him that he was destined for hell and the thick skin that had grown around it had left him indifferent to other's offended opinions. Nobody had to know what went on behind closed doors regardless of their opinions. He grinned mischievously at Rom and took the address, neatly putting it in his breast pocket of his shirt. 

With his glass empty from much earlier, he simply raised it towards Rom who had nursed the scotch slowly as one was supposed to do. Honey had not been so careful, however, and placed the empty glass again on the table. He knew that dealing with Rom would have more drawbacks than would working on his own and already he could imagine some of the trouble he could run into. He was a scrapper by nature, used to picking fights and winning easily, but these weren't school yard scraps. These were real life and death situations where he was an expendable pawn in a chessboard. The question then became, how would he rise in power without being checked or taken out? 

"Shall I see you tomorrow then? Bright and early at the Tops Casino. I'll be there with bells on." As Rom finished his drink, Honey stood and tipped his hat to the man. He made his way to the cash table and there he turned in his chips for his winnings. As he approached the door, he was joined by another figure who was a hair taller than he. The two of them made their way outside and the door closed behind them leaving Rom to muse on the nature of the whole interaction. 

The next day dawned gloomy and gray but true to his word, Honey was there in timely fashion. He was neatly dressed and ready to find out exactly what tricks Rom had up his sleeve. He had found out from Ham the night before that while Rom and he worked for different employers within the same city, there was a sense of camaraderie and fealty that extended to each group under the watchful eye of their Godfather Tetley. It made working with Rom less of something to be suspicious of and more of an extended family reunion so to speak. 

"Morning bossy, pleasure to see you." He said jauntily, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. 

A black shirt, rolled up to his elbows, black trousers and a pair of boots. Rom was ready, he had discussed the business with a lot of people in recent weeks with vGoddess maintaining her slice of the pie and then Newt_Scamander providing on those end of things, it left a few things to him, and he was comfortable with role he had, especially considering that DickGrayson was one of the few remaining dealers that he had already, without another word, he walked around The Tops...

Unlike that of the horse-racing tracks, Rom knew that a lot of this was something that had been overplayed, the Casino hand and while he wished for it to reach some levels, he knew that wouldn't be happening. He had to come to terms with what was to happen, how he was to play out his role and here he was, ready to discuss that with his most recent partner in Honey. 

Watching the floor, he noticed when one of the many guards notified him of his coming into the place. The Tops, once frequented by the likes of Adonis, Louis Mezzo, Maggie Greene, Isabella Luciano and Tara Byrne, now, it was just this. A relic, one of the few pieces that somehow hung on. He was proud that he bought the place, it was a steal, and Rom both knew it, the last remnant of a place like this, maybe it was time he recreated it in a better image. 

"Honey, welcome! It's better you came here now, I was just about to work on some numbers. It's better like this, come...it's time that you know the operation and how we wish to work it, especially with you in Bricktown."

With that, Rom placed a hand on the man's shoulder and led him towards the back, the warehouse that held plenty of the Casino's true wealth and more armed guards. The man was definitely going to be a part of this operation, a big part and this was not going to be wasted as such. He was trusted, with that, Rom gave the man a simple nod.

"This is it, the operation, right here in the back...these trucks here. They contain Heroin and Cocaine, stuff, which you and your...associates, when you get some, will sell and well, you get the obvious picture I am painting here right?"

Nodding to one of his few men, one of the other trucks that were heading for 12th Street continued to be loaded, something like this, Rom prided himself on it. This was truly one of the biggest operations he ran out of Detroit, The Tops was a goldmine, both legally and otherwise. 

Yet right now, he wished to know that the man was onboard, he had no issues before, and he didn't think now would be any different. With that, he fished around his pocket for a smoke, lighting it with a speed that many would not think he possessed as he puffed, blowing it out through his nose as he watched it with those eyes. Dull and seemingly lifeless as he waited for an answer from his would-be partner.

"Aye..." 

Honey's tone was cautious, as though what was in front of him was slightly different than what he had expected. He mentally wracked his memory, trying to recall the moment Rom had mentioned drug running as part of the deal but he couldn't quite recall that it had been mentioned...or at least not in that way. Last night, most of their conversation had revolved around talk of actual gambling, something he had shown his hand at so to speak. He was quick witted and adept with the dice and the cards but the thought of illicit drugs hadn't crossed his mind. 

To describe Honey would be akin to speaking of a golden sheaf of wheat. Tall, upright, and dead useful to a variety of situations. On first glance, there was nothing shady or crooked about him. He was impeccably dressed, never smoked, and carried himself as a member of the clergy might. Truth be told he was the epitome of upstanding in public spaces. The picture he was painting, even now to Rom, was a different version than the one making a small fortune in the gambling den last night. 

He nodded, taking mental notes of the job though he was certain that he would have questions in the following days. Associates? As in people working for him? That would most certainly be a learning curve. He paused, watching Rom with scrutiny. He was busy looking at his cigarette with apathy which is exactly how he himself would look at one.

"So give me a rundown of what's included. I believe yesterday was simply the meet and greet and today would be the first day of training. I'm curious to find out more regarding the specifics of my job function and, er, title."

Chuckling, Rom wouldn't lie and say that he hadn't mentioned this for an exact reason. The man had agreed to make money, this is one of the many ways he wished to make sure that this could go as smoothly as he wished. 

"Title and function, you operate out of your own distribution hub. You are a partner in this product industry, you make decisions on whom you deal to and which of your associates you trust, to make the drops, to deal with junkies and to make sure that they keep a low profile."

Rom looked over the warehouse, over three distribution hubs in Detroit alone. The business that they were involved was hardly accepting, the one that he wished to get involved with from the ground had hardly been...calmer than the mob life. Latino Cartels and working with them to make sure kilos of Cocaine and Heroin made it past the border....it was fucked but he made it work. 

"What you do is operate a business, a front, something that looks legitimate and keeps the legitimate books that coppers won't come sniffing around like the hounds they are. We may pay them a pretty hefty wad of cash, better than the one they take home. Still, it does not leave us to be invincible, some are heroes, and they will try to raid your business..."

With that, a dull look settled in his eyes, one that didn't look like it belonged there for the young man. Rom seemingly witnessed a lot more than most people had to witness in his young age, so with that, the distributor of Detroit watched Honey, wanting to see how he reacted to being in charge of his own operation here....

"Every few weeks, a drop will be made to your business. You work within those guidelines, you don't sell to kids, any of your associates do, they die! What we do here, it's not exactly getting us into the good books with the churches, but we do have to survive. And as I said about life in the gambling den, how we do it, is up to us."

Rom now snuffed out the smoke as he dropped it to the ground. His eyes assessing Honey for a moment, the man seemed to be following him, but he was sure that there was going to be many questions for him. So he knew that this was just the starter, one thing that he could make a lot of money in. 

"I know, this is not exactly what we discussed but it makes you more money. I have a feeling that you need that, so look at me Honey, you will be making enough and you will settle those personal affairs. With my help, you work with me now. So, I'll be sure to assist you in whatever you wish, eh?"

His words, well he may have wished to have a second agenda, like keeping an eye on the man. There was something within him that drew Rom to him, a determination, one that did not wish to be held back. It wasn't ambition like Rom's, so he, Rom, was not going to stand back and just let this happen. He wished to watch it, and he would, the man was a part of this now. He had plenty of resources at his disposal.

Internally Honey groaned though outwardly he made no show of it. The thought of having to open and run a business was not what he wanted to hear in the least and for a split second he considered turning tail and leaving. He had come to America for one reason and one reason only, to settle his father's affairs after his untimely death from tuberculosis. The unexpected addition of seeking out their missing half sister had complicated things and with the insistence from their Ma that it was now their sole duty to track her down and care for her, leaving America was becoming that much more complicated. With no leads and little money, they had turned to their innate abilities as they worked with their father's solicitor to auction off the house and items in order to finance their new situations and, ultimately, hire someone to track the girl down. She couldn't be more than 10 or so by now though even the carefully kept book written in their father's hand said little about her. It seemed almost as though her existence had been expunged. All that they could find of her was that she had been born sometime in 1920 during the flu pandemic and her ma and sisters had died that same year. After that, only one letter was mentioned as the rest of the passage concerning what had become of the girl had been scratched from the book. 

Honey took a deep breath, musing over the almost broken look in Rom's eyes as he stared at the glowing end of his rapidly disappearing cigarette. The young man who was perhaps six months younger than he was himself already looked older in some ways. Whatever he had seen and experienced, it was hard on him. Honey wondered if he too would soon reflect that same world weary look to others that passed by. Still, Ham had given his nod of approval and perhaps this would allow the both of them to accomplish what they needed. 

"What sort of business do you recommend?" He asked, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, waiting to see what the world weary young man was going to say. 

"Well, a Casino is an option but that leaves capital and I could provide but I don't think you'd like the glitz and glamour. So cigars, a cigar shop, inside crates, it'd be like a regular thing. The trucks would carry partial cigars and then underneath the cigars would be the heroin and cocaine. A good step and a good business, it hides it from the cops, though as I said, they're not an issue..."

Honey seemed to watch him then, as did Rom watch the man opposite him, for a moment, Rom found himself walking down the halls, deciding that this was going to be something he could even witness. Motioning for the young man to follow, he brought him to the smaller warehouse in the back, one that held, the Casino's reserve of cocaine and heroin, the excess parts. 

"This, however, is going to be a little different. I need you to hold onto some crates of Heroin and Cocaine, it's only three, there's a truck in the loading bay from where we came. Unfortunately, the cartel that is supplying me has upped its demand. Which means, I need to find a way to sell this, consider this, your first official run."

Rom hummed to himself, three crates could be sold with ease, relatively ease. It was the fact that Honey needed to get this done, he needed to know how the man worked. He could have had a few of his guys, easily, sell this and come back to him with the profits. While he knew that this would have seemed the slightest bit manipulative, Rom knew this is how the game worked. 

"I recommend tomorrow, some low-level gangs might want to buy from you. From there, it's in their hands and you don't have to worry. This is how the business works, Honey. I want to be sure that you're ready and you've earned this. I know I offered you a lot of money, it's all in there, consider it a little test, aye?"

Rom didn't know whether the man would either hit him or greet him with a challenging smirk in return. Yet, he would welcome either. He needed to know what he could, how he used his resources, with that, maybe Rom could see him becoming something of a partner. 

"You think you could handle that?"

"I'll have to look into what I can do. I'm not much of a smoker myself and have little experience with quality tobacco. I know a bit about tea and flowers. Ma was something of a master when it came to herbology. She knew every plant and flower in Scotland and was always taking us on walks to describe the benefits of each plant. Wicked she was, knew all of the deadly ones as well and had somewhat of a collection. Even supplied a long lost poisonous plant to Alnwick."

 External calm gave way to internal panic for a moment, as his calm facade slipped for the first time since he and Rom had become acquainted. He tried to tamp it down, rather successfully though his mind was still racing. He hadn't expected that the official job would begin quite like this.

Already he was thinking of who he might sell to, trying to think of who would be desperate for such ill gotten gains here. He knew the cocaine would go a long way with artists and writers, those that wanted or needed the constant uppers to write and perform would gladly take the drugs and pay a pretty penny at that. The heroin though, that would be much harder to pass off. Honey had practically no contacts in this godforsaken city. He was going to have to do some hoof work to unload the drugs. 

A big part of him balked, like a petulant child when their sibling told them to do something, he could feel the resistance welling up inside. This was a test and he knew it. Rom was seeing if he'd prove himself, if he'd bust his ass out there getting rid of the drugs so he could come crawling back like a puppy begging for his masters attention and perhaps a bone. He felt humiliated and angry that he would have to make Rom trust him by doing his bidding and yet, and yet...He knew that being a stubborn ass wouldn't net him anything either and would ruin his chances for further opportunities. As little as he wanted to sell himself out to someone else, he wanted to be destitute even less. 

Taking a deep breath, calming his rankled nerves before doing his best to return Rom's knowing grin. There was a hardness behind it that he couldn't fully get rid of and he just hoped that Rom understood that he was asking Honey to do a lot in a very short amount of time.

"Do you by chance have the keys to the truck?"

"Yes, I do...and when you get back, you'll find two-hundred grand waiting for you in the cashier's area. It's business, Honey. I need to know that when this is gone, the cocaine and heroin that you will be able to...get more done. It's more than a test, it's entry, it's survival. I want you to know that I see what you're doing, I will repay this kindness, I will make sure that you receive all the luxuries that I can give you, aye?

Rom would not pretend, incentive and the bonus of the added Heroin-Cocaine deals, he would be able to make sure that he made some headway with his personal matters. Though he would make sure that Honey was rewarded, in many ways, placing a hand on his shoulder, gave Honey a soft smile, one that was genuine. 

"Don't worry, you will not be alone in this. You will have the support of two of my best, Bugs and Eggs. They're yours, associates, soldiers, whatever you wish to call them. They have an affinity for the game, as do most of my soldiers. This is going to be something big, alright? So, Honey, do not think that you are....alone in this matter, you have the support of all of us here."

With that, he placed the keys in his hand. He could see the hard grin there, one that did not reach his eyes but gave way to anger. It was almost fearful, yet Rom simply gave him that tight smile, one didn't hold much of the genuine soft smile earlier. They both knew what this was, yet, they both wished to continue for different reasons. 

"Once you do get back and the deals are sorted, come back to me when that Cigar shop is open. I'll have my guys begin to load up the trucks, and we can start our new business. Seriously, though, Honey, you've done me a favour. One, that I will never ever, forget."

A hard look settled in his eyes, he made sure understood his meaning, the man was owed a favour here. One that he could in at whichever time he desired. With that, a whistle blew of Rom's lips as Bugs and Eggs now stood behind him....

"Protect him, boys. He's going to be a partner, you know how we treat our partners..."

With that, Rom left Honey, hoping that soon enough, the two would begin to work closer together in the coming months. The man had a certain aura and determination about him, one that would serve him well, he hoped at least.