Cesare tossed and turned throughout the night, the simple comforts of those silk sheets and the soft(er) mattress causing issues for the normally sound sleeper. He wasn't used to pampering, something that would take time for the hard-knock life he was privy to. But regardless, as he lay there awake in the early morning, staring at the tapestry of Nico's "apartment penthouse", he couldn't help but think... This was something he COULD get used to.

He'd heard her shuffling about and eventually climbing the ladder to the morning rays on the roof... He'd heard the nightlife die down, giving way to the early morning bustle of traffic and business. He'd even heard the planes overhead bringing more clutter to their oversaturated city. But all that aside, what caught his attention was the peace that somehow prevailed versus the normal chaos that erupted from the moment his eyes opened.

Finally shuffling the covers, he rolled to sit up on the edge of the bed, wiping his face and grabbing his cigarettes first. Lighting one up as was his usual morning ritual, he stood and stretched before wandering to the "bathroom". "Real bath... Gonna be a treat," he muttered groggily and turned the knobs that started the running water, which Nico had promised... HOT running water at that.

Taking one last gander around the apartment to make sure Nico hadn't fluttered back down the ladder, he finally resigned himself to a morning wizz, then taking that hot, wonderful, steamy bath... Ohhhh, it was nice. With fresh soap and shampoo, even if they were a bit feminine for his tastes. Then again, the hooligan was used to grease and soot more than soap and water.

After freshening up and toweling off, he slipped into his baggy clothes and snatched the gems from their hidey hole to place back into their small satchel. Once dressed, he headed for the ladder and started to climb, jacket tossed over his shoulder and sleeves rolled up on his tucked-in shirt. Time to see if she kept her word about breakfast, too, like she had with everything else. And with each rung of the ladder climbed, he doubted her less and less as the scent of ... was that coffee? And he could smell food too! It seemed as if she was telling the truth after all. And for that, Cesare smiled as he pushed the hatch door open.

"Mornin', Nico," he called out as his head poked through, his eyes scanning the rooftop for her position.

Nico remembered her first night in a fancy hotel. Waking up in clean sheets, swaddled in down and delusions of grandeur. That kinda sunrise changes a person. At least, it had changed her. Those early days broke with a rising knowingness, an understanding that every day could be like that. That, in fact, that kind of luxury could be her life... if she was willing to claim it. And claim it she had... or forged it - in more ways than one. Now, as she rose from her own satin sheets and slipped into a silken summer robe, she wondered if her new 'accomplice' might have the same shift in perspective. Or if, instead, he'd simply have a change of heart. 

This life wasn't for everyone. It took work. It changed you as much as it changed for you. It wasn't easy... even if she made it look that way on the outside. But to her, it was worth every drop of sweat and blood she'd ever spilt. ... and every tear. 

For a long moment, she paused and stared at the dimly glowing fireplace, listening to the restful breathing of her newfound 'Friend'. Was e truly sleeping? Getting the kind of dead-to-the-world rest that comes with a moment of safety after a long period of hypervigilance? Or was he faking?? Another show, another air, another move in the chess game he'd learned to play to stay alive? 

She hoped it was the former. 
But if it was her, she knew it would be the latter. 

Silent as a killer, she turned away and tiptoed quietly into the 'kitchen'... which was to say a small countered space with a sink and an icebox. Loading a wicker basket with an array of items, she tiptoed to the ladder and quietly made her way to the roof. Barefeet padding softly against the ceiling, Nico lit the grill that served as her cooktop and set about delivering on that promised breakfast. 

Fried eggs and bacon were always a hit... even for unrefined palates. So, of course, those failsafes would be included. But she took it a step further... partly for show and partly for encouragement. A charcuterie of fine meat and cheeses. An array of fresh sliced fruits from the docks or her personal garden: mago, dragonfruit, pineapple, watermelon, and bananas... tomatoes and avocados for good measure, though whether those counted as 'fruits' was up fo interpretation. And - just for extra special measure - salmon lox with beluga caviar. Because why not. Once she was satisfied with the food selections, she set a small, moka coffee pot on the grill top and turned to juice a handful of fresh oranges... which grew from one of the many lush trees that dotted the roof. Just as she heard the ladder creak and rattle under the weight of ascending steps, she popped the cork on a chilled bottle of champagne (she had mentioned mimosas, after all) and turned toward Ces' calling voice with a warm smile. 

Floating down into a seat at the wrought iron table, she beckoned him over. "Good morning, Mister Cesare," she cooed... giving him a taste of how it felt to be respected and waited on, "Your breakfast is served, Sir." She winked playfully, motioning for him to help himself with a flourishing wave at the unnecessary (and unnecessarily fancy) selection of foods, "Help yourself, darling." 

 

The immediate snirk that emanated from him at the 'Sir' was poignant... Something he'd -never- been called in his life. Yet, something about the way she said it felt good. Felt right. She made him feel - what was that foreign concept to him? Respected. Yeah, that was the one.

Making his way to the spread of food, he smiled at the fresh fruit and cheeses. Now THIS was a treat! And he gladly took a few nibbles on a little bit of -everything- there, minus her! Yet... Though the thought crossed his mind. Joining her at the table, he chose a mimosa for his morning beverage and sipped on it before leaning back.

"Thanks, Nico. This is great, really," he praised between bites of food. "Somethin' I could get used to... Hope ya slept well an' I didn't keep ya up."

He continued to eat and drink his breakfast, pausing now and again to look at her and smile before finally asking...

"Where are ya thinkin' for this shoppin' spree, eh?"

"Not at all," she kept one eye on him as he ate. A soft smile tucked into the corner of his lips as she again regarded him with that 'there you are' expression. "I slept like a baby." ... but surely with all his tossing and turning, he'd know that... have felt it... have heard the shallow, steady pace of her breathing in the vacuous silence of an unmoving body. 

The sharp angles of her delicate features softened as she simply watched him eat. Taking an unsignaled joy at both his presence and his exuberance. She remembered the days when plenty still felt like novelty. ... that felt like such a long time ago. Her small smile slowly turned just a bit forlorn at the nostalgic thought, like someone touched by the echo of a ghost. 

(He hadn't thought to ask why a lady would keep a spare bed...)

"I'm glad you like it,"  she offered belatedly, with a grin that was both somehow more genuine and more forced. "It certainly wouldn't have served well to disappoint or underdeliver on our very first agreement, hm?" A wind followed as she sipped her mimosa, lighting a cigarette to exorcise the Bad Thoughts and exhale them heavenward... where they belonged. She was quiet for a long moment, her distant gaze tracing mental maps of the streets as she plotted their course. A fitting distraction, if nothing else. 

"Well, you mentioned a friend, no? I rather suppose they should be the very FIRST stop. Beyond that - unless you've a mind to hop a plane - I'm fairly certain we could find most of what you're going to want down on Rodeo... if you're up for it?" 

It was a question... and a tease.... and a challenge.

There was a gentle chuckle as she answered... Sleeping like a baby. He knew, of course, but it was polite to ask. At least he thought so. Looking up at her watching him eat like it was his last meal, he paused and slowed down, popping a little cube of cheese in his mouth before grinning. "Wha-?" came the chipmunk-cheeked question before he chased the cheese with mimosa... Her answer of "liking it" and "not disappointing" doing well enough to have him agree. "Fair points, and I do like it. Very much. Possibly the nicest thing a stranger's done for me. Well, partial stranger. We did share a room for a night," he chuckled and winked. Mostly filling the silence as her gaze turned distant.

"Well, you mentioned a friend..." she started, drawing a nod from him. Though as she continued, the thinly veiled teasing challenge had him narrow his eyes, albeit playfully.

"Correct, I've a friend for tha gems," he answered with a nod, continuing...

"And I ain't to keen on hop planes to another town, not with so much here ta look through. But if you think we'll find most of what I want on Rodeo, then Rodeo is where we'll go... Though, just so's you know? I think most of what I want's already here on this rooftop," he winked, then to throw her off, eyed the food.

Stuffing a few more pieces of fruit and cheese in his mouth, he eventually leaned back and downed the mimosa before standing and fixing his sleeves. "Well, I suppose if we're goin', let's get you down below an' changed for tha stroll." Then his jacket slid over his shoulders and he straightened the oversized coat as best as he could before offering her yet another grin.

"Technically, you could say we shared a house," Nico quipped back, upping the ante of his teasing without so much as a flinch. She didn't mind the company, or the banter. But, truth be told her mind was on business more than pleasure. He was pleasant, sure. Endearing, even. And easy enough on the eyes. But she had ambition. And as luxurious as her lifestyle was for a lowly gangster, she truthfully had little desire or intention of being sidetracked or distracted by carnal frivolities. Maybe she was a bit stuck up, or maybe it was a part of her carefully crafted persona. But - despite the friendly teasing - she carried herself with an air that was somehow 'above' bedding below... or even equal to... her status. Much like a button, he hadn't earned that right, it seemed. 

He was a project. Another of her works in progress... perhaps, a masterpiece in the making... but for now, just another angle, another piece on the proverbial chessboard. 

Standing, she eyed him over one last time before sauntering leisurely over to the ladder and making her way downstairs. "Very well," she winked as she disappeared, "Let's polish this turd." 

He absolutely was a turd, the little shit. But something in her tone still sparkled with the promise of a gem beneath the mess. 
Sliding through the hatch, she danced her way over to her closet. Humming all the while, she tossed several outfits out onto the bed, scrutinizing each for just the right 'vibe'. A soft grumble escaped her as she abandoned them all to instead re-tame her finger waves and slip into her stockings. An unnecessarily meticulous amount of time spent on her makeup. 

She was stalling. 

Returning, now half dressed to again stare - perplexed - at the collection of clothing on the bed. "Ces!" she called up, assuming he was still upstairs, "Pick a colour??"

He couldn't help but crack a grin at the playful banter... But he, and he assumed her as well, wasn't looking for anything beyond the teasing. Not yet... He had far too much on his mind to think about.

But a TURD! He chuckled... She wasn't completely wrong. He looked down at himself as she headed down the ladder. A turd. Shaking his head, he wandered to the edge of the roof since he was alone now, and gave the wrought-iron a testing shake before leaning his weight on it and overlooking the city below. "Alright Cesare Torettino," he offered himself with an air of conviction. "Today's tha day that yous go on and grab tha new you by tha cogliones and step out into tha world. Start bein' who yous wanna be, an' stop bein' tha bums ya been."

Staring out over the proverbial kingdom from his perch atop the city's throne, he lit up a new cigarette and gave a few puffs, allowing the woman downstairs time to dress.

The busy streets were a low hum way up at the top of the building, but he could still overhear the chatter of the people crowding the boulevard. Couldn't make out words, but could hear the chirping of their mundane existence. "Really is a spectacle from up hears, eh?" he asked out to no one in particular... Or maybe he was talking to the ghosts in his head... His mother, father, Frankie... Either way, Nico calling his name cut through the air and reeled him back from the edge of his thoughts. Turning to the hole in the roof where the hatch was, he strolled over and called down...

"What?"

"Pick a colour!" she called again, less question this time.

"Uhhh, fuck I dunno... Green? Since folks gonna be green wit' envy seein' yous on my arm, eh?" he chuckled in response. "That, an' we's gonna be loaded after we drop tha gems."

He snuffed his cigarette between his fingers and flicked it from the roof before climbing down the ladder. One glance in her direction and he paused - she wasn't entirely dressed yet, and that certainly made the distraction of desire harder to combat... But, like a gentleman, he averted his eyes - though doubtful it was quick enough for her not to catch him looking. "Dammit," he whispered, barely audible as he cursed himself for being slow on the respect. Something he'd surely need to work on if he planned to get in with a family. Couldn't be caught ooglin' someone else's gal, at least not one that wasn't her job to be oogled.

"Sorry Nico, figured you'd have been more dressed," he offered in apology as he hit the bottom rung of the ladder and made sure to keep his eyes from where she was dressing as he headed for a seat to wait. "Make up looks nice though. An' yeah, green would go pretty on yas."

Nico waved off the apology. Her slip covered all the important parts. A little indecent, perhaps, but far from nude. Nothing worth making a fuss over. After all, the space was basically one, big, open room - making certain concessions rather unavoidable. "I couldn't decide what to wear," she chuckled softly, still frowning at the outfits on the bed. GREEN?! ... There was definitely no green to be seen atop the sheets.

Turning back to her armoire, a mixture of muffled muttering and fabric rustling whispered through the penthouse as Nico rummaged throug it. Eventually coming up for air with a fluttery, vibrant swing dress in hand. Donning it as quickly as she was able, Nico topped the fit with an ensemble of emeralds and diamonds, and a matching velvet fascinator.

Pausing to look herself over in the mirror, she smoothed the outfit down with a soft shrug. It wasn't her usual style, by any means. But it certainly wasn't awful. After slipping into a pair of mary janes, she grabbed her clutch from the bedside table. The echoing click of her heels finally signaling her readiness as she crossed he floor to meet him. 

"So... this friend of yours...?" she smiled and winked, doing a little sway for approval. "Do I get to meet them or are you going to make me wait in the car?"

"Car?" Ces paused and looked at her. "You's speakin' metaphysically or whatever it is, right?" There was a chuckle. "I ain't got no car... Yet. Unless yous was thinkin' a boostin' one?" His eyes narrowed curiously as a smirk crawled across his face. "Or I guess we's could take a taxi."

There was a shrug before he pushed the elevator door open, "You look real nice, Nico. Really nice. I like it." The door was held, and a hand waved in offer, "Ladies first, ya know." Following her, he let the door clang shut and started to back the hand crank down to lower toward the first floor.

"I don't care if yous come in and meet th' chump. Hell, might be yous can sweet talk'em into a little more, if yous was so inclined. He got a sweet spot for dark curls... And gals in green." There was a smirk as he waited for the incredulous stare that was likely to happen.

"Like tha game, right?" he chuckled at the double entendre of him being called Ces...

"Anyways. When we get there, if you wanna come in, feel free. If you ain't, your call." As they hit the bottom floor, he pushed the door open and took a deep breath. "Ahhhh Los Angeles, tha City'a Angels... Good mornin'..." He chuckled, immediately going for a cigarette, offering one to Nico as well...

Nico grinned like her clutch was a satchel full of secrets. A playful look of pity shot his direction as she stepped out of the elevator and made her exit through a rear door. 

"I like your style, Kid. But you're still thinking small." Taking the offered smoke, she waited for him to light it and immediately blew one of those characteristic smoke rings right to his face. Winking as she pulled a small keychain from her purse with a smirk. "Wait here just a minute. I'll pull the car around... darling." 

With a gentle pat to his lapel, she skipped down the back stairs and disappeared around the corner a block or two away. 
The distant chime of buoy bells and tug horns echoed softly from he wharf. The glittering sunlight reflected from the surrounding windows like a twinkling kaleidoscope, playing shadow puppets with the rising cigarette smoke as he waited. Seconds grew to minutes as somewhere down the road, Nico got a chuckle out of making him wait juuuuuust a little longer than anticipated. 

She checked the tires and the mirrors. Fluffed her hair, reapplied her lipstick. And then, the rumpbling purr of a Lagonda v12 Rapide rolled to a stop at the bottom of the stairs; top down and ready to roll. 

"So... 'street rat', anyone ever teach you how to drive?" Nico purred, stepping out and holding the door for him. 

He paced a bit, wondering what was taking her... And then the rumble came purring around the corner and caught his attention. "Now that's a car," he chuckled out... Then that's when the blinking and confusion started as he recognized none other than Nico behind the wheel, the vehicle pulling to a halt at the stairs... More blinking.

"What tha fuuu?" he started, but couldn't even finish the sentence with the dumbfounded look on his face. Slowly, one foot in front of the other, he took each step down the small landing of the building. "How in th'... What in th'... Where in th'... Why? WHAT?!" He started laughing. "Holy shit, Nico! Where did you end up with THIS ride?" He shook his head as he made his way around the drop-top Rapide with an amused air about him.

"Y-yeah... I know how to drive, just never had enough for my own car." He circled it one more time... "Wooooowwww..." He finally laughed and then looked at her before moving to the passenger side and opening it for her. "Sure, I'll chauffeur you around while we's go shoppin' for me." He snickered. And once she was in the passenger seat, he made his way over to the driver's side and slipped into the vehicle, adjusting the mirrors for his height. "Alright then, off to see Benny... In style." He looked her way, grinning wide like a kid in a candy store. "Don'cha worry, doll. I'm takin' notes on ALL th' lessons." There was a happy nod before he put the car in first, checked his mirror, and pulled out into the street.

Nico smiled as she slid into the passenger seat, "Who said anything about money, Kid? I told you... decide who you are and act it until that's all other people see." 
Unpinning her facinator, she shook out her curls and let them blow in the seaside breeze as they pulled onto the boulevard. "If you hold up and decide to stick around, I'll show you the whole garage one day," she winked, "Hell... maybe I'll even let you drive the Rolls-Royce." 

She paused a moment to let him wonder whether or not she was joking before adding, "I don't take it out too often to avoid drawing attention." 

For a long moment, she closed her eyes and relished in the feeling of the sun on her cheeks and the wind in her hair; savouring the simple pleasures of a life well lived. One hand dancing with the wind without a care in the world. "I never wanted the big life... just a nice one. I don't need a rank or a fancy button. I don't care if people know my name. I just want to do what I'm good at and enjoy a few spoils along the way. I do what I gotta for that. But I ain't aiming up. So... if you're looking to climb, then I'll be behind and below ya, yeah?" 

Nico lolled her head to the side and smiled lazily at him through a cascade of raven ringlets. "So... Benny, hm?"

So it -was- stolen then. Or borrowed. Or a gift... He didn't know, aside from the fact that he was driving it. That, in and of itself, was a gift. Looking in her direction, Cesare nodded as she continued to speak, as if she were the only thing he was focusing on; even if the road before him was constantly under supervision. "Don't toy with me," he offered in a skeptical tease. "I might be heartbroken if I can't drive a Rolls now, Darlin'." He shot a grin back at her before grumbling and slowing to a stop behind two vehicles. "Fuckin' pricks," he mumbled to himself, just in time for them to start moving again.

"Yea, that's right, you's see me comin' hea! Get out tha fuckin' way!" he grumbled louder, but still mostly to himself.

"Anyways, yous asked about Benny, yea?"

He glanced her way before back to the road. "He's alright, got a couple screws loose, but really knows his bags." He gently patted his coat pocket a few times. "Worth it ta let'em take a look." Ces turned off the Boulevard and down a side street, then turned again to run parallel to the previous street, coming to a stop before the next block and turning into a small, run-down-looking shop's parking lot. "An' this is his place. If you wanna make a splash, come in after me... When you distract'em, I'll palm a few. See if we can grab a second opinion on a few gems at another spot." He winked with a chuckle, then killed the car's engine, stepping out to walk around and open her door. Offering a hand and a cigarette, he helped her out, then turned to head in. "Join me, or don't - but either way, I'll see ya in a bit."

"Just palm a few now, if you want. No reason to go pulling a slip if we don't have to," Nico chastized him, taking the cigarette with a nod. "Work smarter, not harder, kiddo. Always." 

Smiling, she took his hand... and kept it... slipping her arm in his with a wink. "Today's about who YOU want to be, remember? So you tell me, Mister Cesare..." Nico paused and bobbled her head, still not knowing his last name... that would need to be fixed soon. For appearances' sake. "Do you want to stroll in accompanied or take all the credit for yourself?" 

"No skin off my nose either way," she nudged him with a gentle pat. 

He thought about it, then tilted his head... "Well, if we pull the slip inside, he'll quote me for all of them, and we can cheat'em... Or, we can just get a quote here. Either way, it'll be a good amount." He shrugged, then tightened his arm around hers and led her to the door. "But I do like the idea of just being accompanied." He grinned. "Can't really take tha credit for myself, that feels wrong." He winked at her, then pushed the door open and led her into the store.

The store was lined with pricey tags, from nice fur coats to cases full of jewelry. Honestly, it would be a great place to knock over some day... Too bad it was connected to a local crew on the block. Even if they were lazy, no good thugs that didn't keep up their end of Benny's protection payment deal. Ces was sure one day, one of the two big crews in the city would probably come and take over running it.

Behind the counter was a small-statured man, thinner and lankier even than Cesare appeared in his oversized suit. Glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, one with a magnifying glass of sorts - a jeweler's tool. He was hunched over an open cloth that glistened in the light from where they were standing at the door.

The chime of the bell overhead had the man crane his neck and tilt his head in their direction, an audible groan escaping him as he laid eyes on Cesare. "Mister Torretino. How... delightful." Looking further, his brows lofted, and behind those thick lenses they could see his eyes scanning the green-clad, dark-haired miss on his arm. "What is this? You've brought a lovely flower into my shop too? I already see through your shenanigans, good sir. And I want nothing of it." His eyes told a different story than his indignant response to their entering the shop, but Cesare shot back...

"Well, if you don't want our business, I'll gladly go down to the shop on Hollywood. C'mon, ma'am, I'll take you to a classier, more dignified store than this junk shop..." He started to turn, but Benny chirped up...

"Oh, oh, noooo. Perhaps I spoke too soon, Mister Torretino. Please, do come in. Ma'am, might I show you around the store? We have some - wonderful items that I think would pair just lovely with your outfit."

Ces shot Nico a smirk and a wink with his back turned to Benny, before spinning them around again.

Nico took her time moving toward the counter. Pausing here and there to let her eyes - and her hands wander. Slowly trailing over the fur coats, she paused occasionally to roll the fur between her fingers. A chastizing glance or two sent Benny's way when the test didn't quite turn out positive. Some of those were pile fabric. 

"You certainly have quite an... interesting... collection here, Ben." She paused and flashed the man a brilliant smile, "May I call you Ben? 'Benny' seems so terribly infantilizing for a man of your obvious tastes and intelligence." Passing one of the jewelry cases, she mumbled softly, "Hmm... Nouveau, Victorian, Edwardian, Deco... my my, even some Georgian pieces..." Still wearing that saccharine smile, she paused at the counter and glanced over the jewels he'd been grading. Her hands trailed over the pile as she snatched one up with a soft gasp.

"Oh, my..." She held it up to the light, tilting back and forth, "Small table, high crown, visible culet... this is a pristine Old Mine Cut." She continued examining it in spite of any protest... if there was any. "A River or Top Wesselton, I'd wager. Visually flawless. And what..." Nico winked as she tossed the diamond in her open palm for a moment, "Three... ish... carats? That's quite a find, Ben. Especially when paired with that fine French Cut Jager and paired baguettes. It's a terrible shame someone felt the need to salvage the original pieces."

Quietly, she arranged the gems such that they were laid out in their 'original' pattern with a gentle pat, "This piece likely had heritage. Could have made a pretty penny with the proper provenance. ... alas, oh well. ... On to the shop, yes?" 

Nico purred as she offered the man her arm and tugged him unceremoniously from behind the counter, dragging him away from the gems and toward a set of paintings on the far wall that looked suspiciously -- VERY suspiciously -- like some of the pieces hanging in her apartment. "Show me what other treasures you're hiding from the world, Ben." 

Cesare blinked a few times as Nico went on about the gemstones, even chuckling a bit as Benny all but wet himself in her presence. But the moment she dragged him off toward the paintings, Ces slid over to the counter. The gems she'd "arranged" were replaced with others from the pile on the counter and slipped in his pocket while Benny was preoccupied. It was quick. It was easy. It was simple...

Sliding back away from those gems, Cesare sat about preparing their small satchel of diamonds for Benny to look at so he'd have longer before getting back to his original rocks.

Though when he checked over his shoulder, he noticed the paintings and paused... His head tilted a bit, and catching Nico's eye, he gestured to the art wall they were near; a silent question offered in a glance. Were those, in fact, replicas? Or were the ones in her apartment replicas? Were they ALL replicas or reprints? He knew often there were legitimate forgeries done to keep the real piece safe... But were her's real? Were these real? Was anything real? His head spun as thoughts shuffled through his mind.

Was she... Was she a forger? That was a question for later. Could definitely explain the car... And the apartment... And, frankly, a lot.

Either way, he grinned at her and went about continuing his setup for dear old "Ben". Laying out the gems on the counter, he finally cleared his throat and chuckled. "Benny- er... Ben, I do got some gems for ya when yous done gettin' dragged around your own shop."

By this point, Nico basically had poor Ben by the nads. And was waist deep in an unnecessarily detailed assessment of one of the paintings. Chittering excitedly about aspects like stroke qualities, spatial tableaus, and the unique use of colour, hue, and value to echo extant period symbolism. As she babbled on in true womanly fashion, there were several big words dropped that, despite his height, flew straight over Ces' (and Ben's) head so cleanly it may as well have whizzed by like an aeroplane zipping out of the shop. 

Still clinging to Ben's arm, Nico caught Ces' look over her shoulder. And in reply, merely gave an utterly impish grin and wink.
That was a story for another time and place. 

"Oh... goodness me, yes. I got so absorbed I nearly forgot our own gems," Nico guided Ben back to the desk, smoothing her skirt and readjusting her fascinator along the way... like a dwarf raiding Erebor. "Mister Torretino tells me that you are, arguably, the best eye for them in the city," she cooed, stooping by the counter to fix the strap on her shoe. "If your shop here is any testament, I must say, I'm inclined to believe him." 

A sticky smile, dripping with flattery, met the men over the counter as she stood again with a contented sigh, "Much better! Little shit's been bothering me since we got out of the car." Nico smiled and gave her ankle a dainty little roll, gesturing at Ces to and over the satchel, "If you'd be so kind...?" 

Only the gods could guess what easily overlooked trinkets and treasures now lay hidden amidst her outfit from the organized chaos that was Benny's little dragon's hoard.
 

"Alright, Ben, take a look right here," Ces was quick to divert Benny's attention to where he suggested, dumping the gems from the satchel onto a perfectly lain cloth. "What can ya tell me 'bout 'em, eh?"

Benny blinked a few times before starting to look back toward Nico. Ces, distracting him more, reached out to touch his arm. "Benny, c'mon pal. I love ya, but I ain't got all day. We're here for tha diamonds. Please, take a look. I know it'll take ya a bit to appraise an' make an offer, huh? THEN maybe we can let my lovely lady friend here reinvest some of that into your store." He wasn't serious, of course... But it would get Benny's hopes up; the idea of being dragged around by Nico surely high on his bucket list for the day.

Benny, attention drawn by Ces as he'd touched him, turned right back to the man with a disdainful huff and a grumble as he'd been denied his stolen glance at Nico's presence. "Yes, yes, fine, fine... I'll get right on it, Torretino." Ces blinked and tilted his head. "No Mister this time? I'm hurt, Benny. Utterly crushed."

Benny grunted, waving a dismissive hand as he grabbed his eyeglasses off the counter, moving behind it to look over the gems. Though before he even looked down, he threw out a repulsive number. "Two hundred bucks for all of'em, just for you, MISTER Torretino." The amount of poison in Benny's snark almost caught Cesare by surprise, almost... But like he knew it was coming, he just tilted his head and grinned, pointing at the gems scattered on the dark cloth. "Look at the gems, Benny-boy... And don't disrespect me an' mia commare again, capisce?" There was no snarkiness in Cesare's voice, no teasing... No. Joking. But what was clear to everyone there was the thinly veiled threat in the words behind eyes that cut like daggers into Benny's deflating machismo. Benny stuttered and stammered a bit, and Ces just tapped the cloth. Softly. Gently. He uttered... "Now."

Benny stole a look at Nico as if asking her to call off her guard dog, but didn't even give her time to attempt as he looked down at the cloth and started to inspect the gems, muttering a soft, nearly inaudible, "Yes sir..."

There was no solace to be found in Nico's presence as her smile quickly dipped to a frown.

"Ces," Nico cooed with a certain amount of familiarity that gently signaled her current loyalties, "If your boy here isn't capable... or willing... of doing fair business here, we really can move on." There was a glance at Ben as he looked over the diamonds -- HER diamonds. "I don't know what beef you two have, nor do I particularly care. What I do know is that number is a blatant insult to my intelligence and value as a customer. You told me he was good. You didn't tell me he was rude... or a swindler. I don't mind being oggled the same as the goods... sometimes. But I won't tolerate being insulted or conned out of hard-earned, high-quality goods." 

It wasn't angry. It wasn't outraged. Just disappointed. Which, paired with her gentle, detached tone, made the impact somehow even worse. So scathingly cold that it was scalding as she simply walked away to peruse the rest of the store. No doubt looking to take her pound of flesh.