#e.start

“--Josie, come in,” the thumping in his chest has calmed considerably, replaced with a sort of exhilaration that reaches all the way town to his fingertips--- knuckles are white around the door knob. “My associate will be joining us soon, but for now,” 

eli would be lying if he said he had anything but a visceral sort of malice for the snow. he’s a trembler when the cold cuts through the layers and layers of winter clothing --- so much so that on a cold night like this, not only is his breath visible to signal the ten degree weather, but the chatter in his teeth is so loud that it’s audible from feet away. an image of batman skulking through gotham, shivering like a chihuahua and muttering superheroes don’t get cold brings a smile to his lips --- he’ll be doodling that in his notepad tomorrow at work. 

but tonight, he’s supposed to be asking questions in chi-town park and looking intimidating. teeth grit like lockjaw on a meth head before he approaches -----

“Hello there,” a smile so warm it almost begins to melt the snow beneath his boots, though his words are slightly strained by the tension.