Smile, Like You've Got Nothing To Lose

That’s not exactly the way I do things, Benny. Social functions aren’t really my strong point, but I make a point to come anyway because lips get looser when there’s a lot of booze involved. I was just asking if you’d heard anything. You don’t have to make a federal case of it.

It’s complicated.

Yeah, I know the delicacy of the situation, Ben. The club got burned down in June, then at the Masquerade a bunch of Macini mobsters got sick, and on Halloween I got my throat cut open. Forgive me for treading lightly.

Look, Vic, that's not what I'm saying.  What I'm saying is that I'm able to talk to people because I've got a drink in my hand and the first question out of my mouth isn't "Do you like to play with matches?"  Just grab a drink and gain people's trust before you start investigating.

Priests and speeches – Rory had to hold back a small snort of amusement. He’d heard all the speeches there were, and he knew that what a man said while on the pulpit or podium or soapbox meant nothing next to the things that came from his mouth after a few rounds of whiskey, or scotch, or whatever poison he happened to prefer. All men were liars until you got them to really open up. Homosexual priests were so common that Rory barely needed to ask around to find them. Still, they could prove useful enough in time, and he was never one to pass up a good story.

"Then what sort of place would you appreciate?  From a financial point of view, you've got to give the man credit.  All these things will certainly open his range of clientele to a richer group of people who don't want to be seen in a low class joint.  And of course there are people who want to be seen in rich places will come back and..." Benny frowned at his glass.  "And now I believe I'm rambling."

Just try not to get too drunk, all right? I’m not really in the mood to carry anybody home. Find yourself a hooker if you want, but keep your ears open. I don’t think I need to remind you that we’re in a bit of a delicate situation lately.

Remember how I told you I was going to drag you to parties? I lied, if I did that I'd never have fun ever again.  I know how delicate the situation is, do you? Because you're the one barging into a peaceful party talking about hunting for information.  Cool your heels down before you get yourself shot.

You always so goddamn optimistic? 

I spend way too much time with ticked off grouchy people to not be able to lighten the mood every once in a while.  Are you always so pessimistic?

"Thanks, Ben, but you don’t need to worry about me," Victor said, feeling a little color rise to his cheeks in embarrassment over his admission and Benny’s response to it.  "I’m just feeling sorry for myself. Everyone does it from time to time, but I assure you, I’ve had more than enough time off. I just need to get back into the game, start swinging the bat again. I don’t do well when I’m just sitting on my ass."

"I don't have to worry about anything, but I do it anyway.  Like the group wife.  It's getting a little sad.  As for 'swinging your bat' there's some hoodlums you could mess up, but if you want a real job you're going to have to coordinate with Fran."  There really wasn't much he could do about these sorts of things.  He distributed orders, he didn't give them.  "At least talking to your contacts should help a little bit.  Maybe you can interrogate them or something.

I ain’t never really liked the idea of hookers,

See, it isn't all bad after all.

Not exactly what I meant, but I’m glad you’re having a good time, I suppose.

I don’t see what the big deal is.

I think the main difference is the number of attractive hookers and the free never ending booze, but I could be wrong.

You hear anything of interest from anyone so far?

He was glad to find Benny warming up to him so quickly; it meant gathering information would be that much easier. He raised his glass slightly in a tiny toast before tilting it against his lips and taking a long swallow. Rory wondered what kinds of tales Benny had to tell: would there be violence? Love? Illegal activities? Those were par for the course for most Chicago citizens, but that didn’t make them any less intriguing. Benny seemed to be the kind of guy who had a lot of connections both up and down the ladder of success and, therefore, he was worth getting to know.

There was something different about Rory.  He wondered about him, what he did, where he was from.  He didn't seem like a Macini footman and he wasn't anyone Benny knew.  Still, he left Benny feeling like he was looking for something.  Certainly not money or passion, he was too familiar with those to miss them in the other man's actions, but something.

Well, this is some shindig.

"I don’t know why everyone in this town is obsessed with forcing me to have fun," Victor said, rolling his eyes as he dug out his own wallet and threw a few more bucks on the table. He certainly didn’t have much intent to go out and hit the town now, not with all there was to do to prepare and protect their names. He felt like he’d had more than enough ‘fun’ already over the last couple of months. He needed to get himself back under control now.

"I guess everyone is here simply to make you miserable," said Benny in a low tone and with a conspiratorial smirk.  "Just you wait, it's only going out for drinks today, tomorrow it might just be making you go to parties or set you up with a pretty gal of your own."

Rory didn’t feel any anger towards this man who had so suddenly appeared next to him; on the contrary, he smiled widely, pretending to recognize him for just long enough to get that woman to leave them be. The man’s apology and subsequent introduction made him laugh a little, and he returned the handshake warmly.

"Rory Alfonso," he repeated to commit the name to memory as they shook hands.  It didn't bother him that Rory seemed to be measuring him up, it was too common of an occurrence in his line of work for him to take offense.  Benny took a moment to actually take in the person he'd accosted for his own means.  Handsome, distracted, and most poignantly, alone.  A curious thing for a room packed full of people looking for company.

Searching [Rory & Benny]

Benny smiled at the woman who stuck to his side, a rather unfortunate choice on her part considering that Benny had no intention of following her upstairs.  He'd made it quite clear and now he was growing frustrated.  As she spoke he gazed across the room, eying any way he could quietly extract himself from this situation.  The solution presented itself in the form of another man gazing across the room.  Their eyes met and his smile brightened.  With a quick word, he excused himself and strode across the room to greet him.