Sin In A Suit

His smile slipped as Jaro’s gesture brushed Kacey’s touch from the other man’s neck; walking around to stand beside his tall, dark, and handsome plaything. Watching the boy’s in blue make their way along, Kacey could feel the atmosphere relax. The remains of his smile melted into curiosity, glancing up to meet Jaro’s gaze to almost search for answers after Jaro’s utterances. 

With one delicate brow raised he asked, “Oh? I didn’t know this wasn’t your first rodeo.”

Kacey’s gaze wandered to the slight bustle of the employees cleaning up around them, thinking that this wasn’t the time or place for the impending conversation to occur. Clearing his throat quietly before stating, “This is something that doesn’t need to be spoken about while you’re on the job. I’ll meet up with you at your place after you’re finished here.”

“Technically,” he began, reaching out to lightly touch his companion’s elbow before he left, “I am done here. I only linger to make sure their jobs get done right.”

He cast a lasting look at his anxious crew. Some of which were watching them. There wasn’t anything of utter importance that Jaro needed to hover over. Thus making his decision a little easier to make. His dark eyes turned to the glass doors one more time before he leaned over to the bar counter top. Snatching up his car keys and giving his crew a curt nod before turning his back to them.

“Why don’t I drive us there,” he said, sliding his arm around the other man’s waist.

Mindy got closer to him an realized it really was him, the man who had a couple months before she came to the pier had left a bundle of cash at her front door with instructions to get rid of his ex-girlfriend. She had gotten it done quickly an let him know, kinda of hoping he had more for her to do. He had caught her interest , and the more she researched the more she liked about him not that she would ever admit that to him. 

“ Yeah it was Mindy, I would hope you haven’t forgotten my name after everything I did for you. I could always let out what I did for you, just remember that.” She said before crossing her arms, and just smirking. “ The casino needed someone to make sure things got taken care of, kind of like what I did for you Jaro. To be honest I should be asking you, what on earth your doing here… didn’t know they serial killers in.” She whispered the last part near his ear, knowing full well she was crossing a line a bit, but she didn’t care. 

It took a great amount of restraint on his part not to laugh. All she had done was rid him of a stalker. Nothing worse than the things she had surely done before. But he reeled himself in. Especially after that accusation left her lips. Sure, there were murders that circled around him. But none of them were his fault entirely. Not according to the police reports and the news feeds. They had all been deemed something of an accident or something of the likes. Though they tried their hardest, they could never pin him with the crime of murder. Private Investigators and the police were smart but Jaro was smarter than your average bear.

“That’s a large accusation,” he rattled under his breath, “and I’m sure that Disney knows of all your shortcomings?”

Mindy sighed as she stepped into the place trying to find something to keep her busy till she finally wanted to go home to her empty home … well new home she had left her old home far behind. She walked around the place, upset that it was apparently closing time but maybe with the right amount of money she could pay whoever owned the place to keep it open a bit longer. All she wanted was to sit and enjoy some beer, that’s when she noticed him a familiar face from her past that she had pushed away into the back of her closet of skeletons.  Getting closer to him she looked him over, making sure she wasn’t mistaking him for someone else. “ Jaro, Jaro is that you? What in the hell are you doing in this place?” She said raising an eyebrow at him, wondering how he of all people would end up at the Pier.

He was going to play stupid. He was going to pretend to not know who the blonde was. But at the sound of her voice and the sight of her dark eyes...it went out the window. Of course, Jaro knew who she was. There was no forgetting how she had helped him in the past. How she had very recently helped him reach a new place in his life. His mind raced back to the nights he had endlessly spend researching ways to get rid his most recent ex girlfriend who had followed him everywhere he went. How he had found her in his search and drove hours to to find her and handed her a bundle of cash.

“Mindy,” he said, furrowing his brow in an attempt to feign memory “wasn’t it? This was my destination from leaving New York. What’re you doing here?”

Kacey had quietly shuffled in with the rest of the crowd to view the final show at the Fantastic Beyond, and when the crowds dispersed out into the veiled sleepless tracks of the strip he lingered and stayed behind. Once he knew he was the last patron in the massive theatre, Kacey purposefully searched for his favourite plaything. Kacey was surprised to have found Jaro so quickly, slowly approaching the other man from behind as Jaro was fixated on something happening outside. 

His hands woven behind his back as he cartoonishly leaned around Jaro’s shoulder to see exactly what had captured the brooding man’s attention. A wry half-smile gracing his lips as Kacey righted himself, leaning in close to murmur, “Are you scared they’re here for you, Jaro?”

His smile slipped slightly when he realized Jaro seemed to be ignoring him. Banishing the feeling away with a throaty giggle, his fingertips reaching for the small of Jaro’s back. His touch meandering up Jaro’s spine until finally settling on the crook of Jaro’s neck. Tip-toeing slightly up to speak near Jaro’s ear, louder this time, “Are you worried they’ll find your fun-geon?”

It took a great deal of will power to ignore the blaring lights that filtered in through the glass doors. But it took an even more will power to ignore the touch that started at the small of his back. After all, he couldn’t be bending his dirty little secret over right in front of his entire crew. Jaro rolled his head clockwise, cracking his neck in the process. It was a casual enough gesture that could also be used to brush off the fingers at the crook of his neck. There were several things that the suave man could say to him in this moment. But once his little dungeon was brought up, he found himself tongue tied.

“Not necessarily, you smart aleck, “ he said, narrowing his eyes, “I have talked myself out of tighter situations than this.”

Eileen was taking her dog, Bauble out for one last walk for the day as the dark stranger emerged from the Fantastic Beyond. She raised a brow at the fact that he was out and about, dressed so well, but lacking anything to keep him even a little warm, “Aren’t you cold?” she asked as she approached, pulling her own coat a little tighter around herself, as though just looking at him without one was somehow making her even colder. Even her dog had a warm pair of booties on his feet to protect them from the cold, snow and salt. 

With a heavy sigh, he looked around for the fastest route to his apartment. Though no matter what route he decided to take he would have to endure the freezing cold. Looking down to see a girl with blonde hair walking her dog. Even her little dog was dressed warmer than he was. 

Mindy let him step inside before moving closer to him, brushing up against while reaching around him to close her front door. She led him down the small hallway an into the main area, that also served as a room separator for all the other rooms. She held the box in her hands, staring at it on and off wondering what in the hell could be in it or why in the hell he had even given her a present. It wasn’t like they were best friends, or even lovers so to say she was confused was an understatement. 

She set the box down for a moment before quickly picking up the pillows that she had thrown everywhere, and placing them on one of her couches before picking the box back up and looking at it keep her gaze away from him. “ Sort of? Well, then I’m sure I can find you something in my closet, that I can gift you. I would feel bad if I didn’t give you something.” She said before opening the box slowly and her eyes went wide at the locket that was inside. “J…Ja…Jaro this is beautiful, are you sure you meant this for me? I… it’s so perfect I love it. “ She said before blinking back tears a bit since it was the only actual present she had even gotten this year. 

Still staring at the box, she chuckled a bit at his response before just pointing behind him. “ Bars right behind you, I would make that for you but if I remember correctly the last time I made you one… you said I sucked. Plus gives me an excuse to put this on…and never take it off.” 

Before this holiday, everything he did was with a purpose. But these days the sophisticated man was without. Granted he hadn’t actually given Mindy the real locket.  He would never part with something of his mother’s. But it was a replica and a good enough one that Jaro was almost unable to distinguish the difference between the two. A smile pulled at the corner of his lips as he watched her face light up at the sight of it. Rubbing his temple, he avoided her gaze. Knowing that deep down, there was something there between them. But that was another problem for another time. One that the manager had been putting off for years and refused to acknowledge until he had a full answer and understanding. 

“It was my mother’s,” he said softly, his eyes following the directions she gave to the bar, “I thought you should have it. As the longest standing connection to my past that I have.”

But Mindy was so much more than just the last connection to his history in New York. She was so, so much more to him. Yet he was unable to say the words aloud. Why had it come so easily when he was with Alice? Jaro didn’t know. Then again, he didn’t know much of anything anymore. Walking into the aforementioned bar, he began to search for the hard liqueur cabinet for the scotch before pouring it in the half glass he had spotted on the counter. Taking a deep breathe, he brought the glass to his lips. She was right though. He had told her she was awful at making drinks and should never be a bartender.

The day hadn’t been much of anything special. No more or less crazy at work then usual, decent tips. She hadn’t been expecting it to be so cold though, so it had been a chilly walk home from work. 

Once home, she turned on the TV for some background noise while she changed. For once, she’d been invited to go out with some people, which was a rarity she figured she shouldn’t pass up. She slipped into some jeans, a nice sweater and a warm pair of boots before brushing her hair back out from her work standard bun, and primped herself with some light makeup. It felt nice to get ready for something for once. To start finally feeling a little better after everything that had happened this past year. Maybe this was a good sign.

Ready to go, she pulled on some gloves and a coat, grabbing her purse and keys. As she pulled the door open to leave, the last person she expected to be at her door, was standing there in the snow. Her own heart pounded somewhere in between anger and some strange, unwanted feeling of hope. 

“What are you doing here?” as the wind blew, she caught a whiff of his cologne mixed with the scent of booze. Not unfamiliar, but never had it been so prominent. He seemed to have a glazed look in his eyes as though he might’ve had too much of whatever poison he’d selected.

Once the door was open, Jaro stood there with his jaw slack. He hadn’t thought any of this through. Certainly not what he would say to her given he would actually see her. Now there she was. Standing in front of him and clearly ready to go out for the night. He hadn’t actually thought he would see her. It wasn’t helping that he was inebriated. Finally out of his element, the suave man just stared at the blonde for what seemed like hours. Mentally,  he urged himself to say something--anything--other than what he was currently doing.

“You look lovely,” he said, finally and a little breathless, “I-I came to apologize.”

But had he really? Jaro wasn’t entirely sure why he was there to begin with. But there was no turning back now. Without fully thinking, he began to just speak. Allowing whatever words came out to be what they were. He would deal with the aftermath later.

“You were right to leave. When I left I wasn’t thinking clearly and I should have at least said something to you before I had. I wasn’t thinking and when I saw my father.. Well, it jarred me. I don’t have a good relationship with him.”

His heart was beginning to beat faster. Where was he even going with this? Jaro looked down, furrowing his brows as he thought. But his thoughts were so jumbled that nothing was making sense. His feet shifted nervously. 

Mindy bit her lip as Jaro gently pushed her away, and she attempted to not let the tears start to form in her eyes when he didn’t even ask why she had kissed him. She shook her head realizing, of course, he hadn’t changed even, with it being Christmas and her wishing he would just admit his feelings to her. “ Oh.. um thank you. Is this like a Christmas present, cause if it is I haven’t gotten you anything yet. “ She said before opening her door a bit more, and looking at him and than back at her living room. 

“ Um if you want to come in you totally can, i wouldn’t mind at all I have some alcohol you might like. Plus i guess we need to speak anyways. Just ignore my barely there clothes, i was just getting ready for bed.” She said before sighing an looking at him hoping he would follow her back into her chambers. 

He took her up on her offer. Taking a few steps inside and letting his eyes wander around the place. Just taking in all the things that made her place hers. He stashed everything away in the folder in his mind. In case these things came in handy down the road. Jaro rubbed his hands together, waiting for her to open the box. Though he would never say the actual words, this was a little more than a feeble apology. There was a tension in the air between them. Not quite thick enough to suffocate but thick enough that it hung like a curtain around them and swaddled them in like a blanket.

“Sort of,” he said, casting his gaze at her feet, “You should open it.”

Jaro waved his hand at her offer of alcohol but stopping short. Thinking it might go over better if he were to loosen up a bit. Or if she were to see him more humane than she more than likely thought him as. 

Mindy had just finished up getting ready for bed, she had done her rituals and all she needed now was to climb into bed an put on the thunderstorm soundtrack. Of course though as of late things were never that simple, cause she couldn’t seem to find her phone even though she had just had the annoying thing in the bathroom a few seconds ago. Groaning she stormed out of her bedroom into the hallway, and out in her living room to try an retrace her steps which soon turned into a chaotic fit of throwing pillows, blankets and other things in search for her phone. Tossing another throw pillow behind her she sighed when she heard a knock at her front door which was rather odd considering she had zero friends. Sighing she made her way into her foyer, mentally cursing whoever decided to show up this late although when she flung open the door she was a little shocked. 

Standing in front of her was Jaro, with a box she was confused but also didn’t care as she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him like she hadn’t seen him in years.  In her head, she made a mental note to blame the mistletoe if he asked why she kissed him, and not to mention it was because she had feelings for him still. 

This was not a reaction he had planned for. Screaming;  perhaps. Violence; absolutely. But this raw, unhinged and unfiltered passion that streamed from her body to his? Never. Jaro was at a loss. He knew that she had, once upon a time, harbored feelings for him. Which was, to say the least, something he hadn’t planned for either. He knew that things between him and Alice was long over and done with. So why wouldn’t he kiss her back? That was something he was unfamiliar with. He had always returned a kiss. Even when everything was fabricated to the fullest extent. 

Gently pushing her away. Though as not to hurt her feelings, Jaro offered her the box. Casting his dark eyes away from her. Unwilling to see the hurt that would no doubt cloud those dark eyes of hers.

It was closing time for the Fantastic Beyond. Naturally, the suave man had stayed behind to clean up after the patrons. His crew had fallen short with the holidays as well as falling behind. Jaro was beyond frustrated and rather angry with the way things were going. In his rush, he had forgotten his jacket at home. Since it was his day off, he had not expected to  have to go in to badger his crew. But, as soon as the doors shut behind him and he had stepped into the freezing wind (and snow) Jaro began to regret leaving his house all together.

Holidays were one of the refined man’s least favorite things. It meant being thoughtful of others and that was one thing that he was not very good at. Aside from thinking about what made them tick. However, to make amends of sorts with the blonde, Jaro had made a a risky choice in venturing to her penthouse. With the trinket on the box that lay in the palm of his hands, he lightly rapped on the door. Though he he failed to notice the mistletoe that hung above the entrance.

Despite the unfestive appearance of his own apartment, he supposed he could put up a tree of sorts. Given that there was only two weeks left until the holiday there wasn’t very many options to choose from at the lot. There were several very sad looking trees that were without very many leaves. They sat there barren and without a second glance from the patrons. However, for whatever reason, Jaro felt sorry for the things. He titled his head ever so slightly to the right, dark eyes narrowing in curiosity. He never understood the importance of having a tree in the first place. Let alone a nice tree.

“This one,” he told the man in shabby clothes who seemed to run the lot.

Though as he turned to point to the saddest looking tree in the lot, his wide gesture knocked over several of the others. Including the two that had patrons stopping at.

He was drunk. For the first time in his entire life; Jaro was drunk. He had sat at home for the majority of the night. Forsaking his duties as manager at the Fantastic Beyond just for a night. Never truly taking a night off the entire year he had been here at the Pier. Jaro supposed he deserved a night off. Calling in sick was possibly the worst idea he had had in a long while. He had yet to truly get Alice off his mind since the last they had spoken. Making  himself a batch of spiked eggnog, the refined man downed the first batch. Now, the vodka was hitting his system and hitting it hard. He had written several text messages that he had then deleted and pressed her name to call her at least a dozen times.

Cursing at himself for going so soft, Jaro tossed his phone to the large, black, leather couch. Pulling on his gray peacoat and shoving his feet in his black boots......he slammed the door behind him. Snow was beginning to fall lightly and settled itself in his dark hair  and lashes. He blinked them away furiously as he focused on the cold air that bit at his skin and the sound of the snow crunching beneath his feet. But before he knew it...there he was, standing in front of her door. Fist raised to knock, Jari’s heart began to hammer.

Holidays around the Fantastic Beyond seemed to be rather hectic. Patrons would come in in seas and waves as the staff would hurriedly try to accommodate the sudden influx of people. But the one thing that had remained unfazed by this....was the manager. The same one who would stand on the rooftop every weekend with his small glass of scotch neat half full. Today, was not exception to this. However, it was a Thursday instead of the weekend. Today, he would install the festive lights that would hang around the rooftop. They were brightly colored icicles and Jaro was not a fan of the freezing and biting cold air that nipped at his face.

Half of the arrangement still hung and reached the ground. Jaro stood watching the patrons enter his establishment with care. Each group more giggly than the rest. Each group leaving just as monumentally fucked up as the last. Which meant that his bartender was doing his job right for once. No need for him to go inside just yet. Rubbing his hands together, Jaro watched as a ginger woman walked passed the Fantastic Beyond.

☕️ - Your character spills hot chocolate on someone

🌟 - Your character is hanging up Christmas lights and needs help from someone

🎄 - Your character knocks over a Christmas tree

❄️ - Your character gets caught in the cold without enough clothes

🍝 - Your character is trying, a failing, at cooking a holiday meal

🍻 - Your character drinks eggnog that's a bit too strong