Once again one of Jimmy's 'brilliant' plans had led him into trouble, at least this time he wasn't staring down the barrel of a gun. Not yet anyway, the night was still young after all.
Begrudgingly he accepted that Maren wasn't shifting from her story though he still didn't believe a word of it, that fact she'd barely flinched the entire time had earned a measure of Jimmy's respect.
"You'd make a damn fine crook you know." He said as if it were a compliment "Don't worry, there wasn't anything in that tobacco crate, you know other than tobacco."
Flashing a geniune smile he placed the pad on the table so Maren could see it was simply a static starmap. "See, nothin'."
He tapped the ash of his cigarette in a nearby tray.
"Now where we go from here is up to you, we can call it a deal and I try to get those guns or we part ways but like you said, who else is crazy enough to even try to do the job?"
"You know, Jimmy, sometimes I do feel like it," Maren replied at his perceived compliment. It irked her to no end that he had tried to trick her, since it meant that Jimmy wasn't a complete fool. While she did enjoy people who could challenge her mentally, it was just way easier to work with dunces who couldn't see the reach of what she demanded of them. "I do wonder why Miss Pimakhova never went to fetch her tobacco at least. I mean, it smells through the crate and everything." At this point, she was talking more to get her thoughts under control, and trivial things just as these helped.
Giving the PDA he'd shown her a wry look, she stroked a strand of hair behind her back. "I came to you with the intention of offering you this deal, Jimmy. It's not really me, but you who's the important party here, since I want to convince you to do it. I mentioned the pay, what I'd like you to enable me to sell on the black market, or wherever this will go. In turn, if you ever need something where you meet your wits end, I can maybe ask around and see if I find someone who might be able to help you just like you are helping someone right now." She held out a hand, offering it to him to shake. It was obvious that she didn't intend to back out of this.
Without hesitation Jimmy grasped her hand firmly and shook it.
"You've got yourself a deal, just do me a favour and make sure these guns I'm gettin' don't end up pointing at me." He said smirking "I'm actually starting to enjoy life beyond bars."
Releasing Maren's hand he took up his drink.
"I'd offer a toast but I don't think I could force any more punishment on you. One of the reasons I order this" he added raising his glass and taking a sip "hard to screw up a gin and tonic."
Glad that Jimmy didn't seem to fuss around anymore, Maren breathed a sigh of relief. It still irked her that he had apparently tried to trick her into revealing more, and if she hadn't quickly considered that the Corvo had never been in any suspicious situation, she might have done something she would regret, though not very long. "Glad we're in accord," she replied to him, releasing his hand after a firm handshake. "And don't worry, I'm way too soft for police work. Like, I'm squishy and all." She poked her belly. "Don't have the condition. Sweet tooth doesn't help."
Upon his last comment, she looked at her glass, which still contained some of the beverage that had scorched her throat. "Probably better to put that in the bin. Reckon Miss Pimakhova just wanted to screw with me here giving me this?" Giving the glass a short look, she sighed. There really wasn't that much of a reason to stay here. "Jimmy, nothing against you, but the air here is grating my lungs. I really gotta get out." Casting him an apologetic smile, she made a move to stand up, the handbag at her side. "Mind accompanying me to the door?"
"Sure" Jimmy replied, thankful for an excuse to stretch his cramping legs.
As Maren was standing up he caught the bartender's eye and tilted his head towards the booth, he still had to find interested parties for the Kemwer stuff and didn't particularlly want all his information being swiped while his back was turned.
"I could do with a walk" he said raising out of his chair "sittin' around drives me nutso. As for the drink, I don't think Katya much of a prankster, just some of her bartenders have a habit of getting complicated drinks wrong and judging by the faces you were making I'd say you got a whiskey velvet instead of a martini."
He gestured to let Maren go ahead first and walked along side her. "So off to somewhere interesting after all this excitement?" Jimmy asked sarcastically.
She gave him an awkward smile in return as she heard about the mixed-up drink, figuring she herself would've never guessed that it wasn't what Katya had intended, because she hadn't the slightest about alcoholic drinks. "Depends on what you think is exciting," Maren admitted quietly once he was at her side and they started heading for the exit. The sarcasm in his voice completely eluded her. "When I'm not out there being a crook, I sit at home, cook, clean and, well, you know, woman stuff." She didn't really take Jimmy as the traditional type, thus she didn't really care whether he would agree with her on that way of seeing things, but it wasn't like she cared much either.
The smoke here really was giving her a monster of a headache. Once they passed the bouncher they had passed upon entering and stood in the corridor in front of the Kvartet, the panorama windows of the Temna Roza permitting a beautiful vista of the stars above, Maren turned around and extended her hand to Jimmy as good bye. "It was nice having seen you again, Jimmy. Besides business stuff, it's always interesting to just talk. You're an interesting man. Hope we'll get to see again soon at some point." She would wait for his parting words before taking her leave to one of the shuttle bays that she had used to enter the Democritus Luxury Yacht that the Temna Roza was.
"You know it's strange, the most annoyin' stuff you do to keep your home tidy is what you miss when you ain't got one. Don't get me wrong, livin' in the big black is fine but it's weird not havin' somewhere to lay your head, you know?" He glanced out the window for a moment "That and makin' cookies." Jimmy smiled but there was no mistaking an undertone of sadness mixed in with the nostalgia.
"But yeah, it's been nice just to sit and talk for awhile, maybe not the cloak and dagger stuff but you know that I mean" he said shaking Maren's offered hand "we should do it again some time after this deal is done, I can't remember the last time I had a coffee without handcuffs on" with a final grin they broke apart.
After wishing each other well, Maren set off down the corridor glancing back briefly to see Jimmy leaning against the opposite wall staring out into space.
Jasper walks up slowly to the entrance double checking his attire. Recently completing a contract with The Commune he decided to purchase a new black suit with a red tie. The bouncer gives him a quick check and gives him the nod through where you are then approached by a gentlemen with a holo pad. "Your name sir?"
"Jasper, I'm supposed ta be meeting with Jimmy he around?"
The mans eyes open a bit at the name.
"Ah yes Mr. Saulder we have a table reserved already for you if you would please follow me"
As I followed the gentlemen through the cloud of smoke he shows me a table in the dark corners of the club.
"Jimmy is expected to arrive soon you are free to choose any drink you like free of charge"
Free of charge I thought, Jimmy must have some connections here.
"Eh thanks Ill take a Liberty Ale till he arrives"
Moments later your drink arrives with a ash tray and a pack of cigarettes. You light one up and lean back in your suite relaxing to the soothing music.
Jimmy entered the Kvartet with a noticable swagger and tugging upon the lapels of his new pinstripe suit. His large silver chain hung in its usual place of honour, this time resting upon a dark teal shirt open at the collar.
He caught the bartender's eye and quickly raised a finger to order his usual then noticing Jasper at his table pointed towards it, the bartender inclinded his head in acknowledgement. Whether he understood the directions was another matter, for all Jimmy knew he could've just ordered Jasper execution. At this point he really didn't care. The last piece of a long puzzle was currently on its way to the Temna Roza's computer core and he couldn't wait to flip the switch.
"Hey Jasper, good to see you found the joint." He said sauntering up to the table and offering his hand, strangely devoid of all but two of its rings. "You got yourself a drink yet? I told 'em to put it on my tab."
Jasper reaches out with a firm handshake and stares down at his empty glass. "Ya you can say I have, could go for another though. So I'm guessing you read through the contract I completed what do you think?" He raises his hand and points to the empty glass.