#j.interactions

the mask, a cast of a wolf’s head that cuts off just over his upper lip, is uncomfortable, to put it nicely. it digs in on the sides and pushes down in his nose in a way that makes it a little difficult to breathe. this, he remembers, is why he always skipped out on every single costume party he’d ever been invited to after college. but damn if he doesn’t look slick. the man in black? fuck him---this is johnny bennett, big bad wolf. yeah, okay, not that creative, but he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t gotten the all black suit (with red tie as accent, of course) tailored just for this night. dress to impress, right? 

because the truth is, johnny isn’t here to have a drink and have fun. he’s here because there is no better time to get interesting information than when the drinks are flowing and there are countless pretty little things around. he makes his first approach, untouched drink in hand.

johnny bennett’s daddy always told him that the main ingredient of opportunity isn’t luck but work. but every once in awhile, something truly confounds him. a fluke so incredibly random that he cannot deny that, perhaps, there is a big man up there who really does like him. 

it was two weeks ago that johnny discovered one lucian o’shea in list of names to check. the great thing about being a rich boy startup’s only savior is that you really connect with people---and those people are willing to snoop gather information for you in a way that a fleet of the world’s best private investigators wouldn’t touch.

ava brauer? phone pressed to his ear, a wide smile had plastered itself on his lips. what a goddamn small world.

❛ I’m waiting for the punchline. ❜  || Johnny

"Now I don’t know if I’m the one to deliver that ----” the tension has begun to rise in his chest. to say tatiana is a fiery woman is an understatement, and sometimes johnny finds himself a bit burnt. he hardly even remembers where this started, but can see where it may end and that ---- that’s a bit of a scary thought.

💚 for a forehead kiss || johnny

true comfort is a little more than kind gestures and johnny knows that, but he isn’t vain enough to pretend to be a knight in shining armor for this damsel in distress. his daddy always did say that women are mysterious creatures, and sometimes you just gotta try your best and hope it works out. in this case, he finds himself drawing up the girl in his arms --- gently and slowly enough to allow her the option of a quick withdrawal. 

but first, he plants a soft kiss on her forehead, then withdraws just enough to speak. 

“ oh, you just hush. ” || @thesteeleforce || johnny 

his tongue darts out and across his lower lip, slicking it with saliva and masking the uncharacteristic grin that’s begun to assert itself. his hands are in his pockets, shoulders back and hips jutting forward slightly. she is just downright adorable, but he’s not quite sure he wants to show his hand or not yet. his teeth catch on his lip for just a second as he looks her up and down. he’s done it plenty of times already, but he hasn’t tired of it yet.

this town is interesting, to say the least. it’s no new york city, nor a boise, nor a portland--but it sure is a beast. you can’t go one day without seeing some new, interesting little detail that you’ve never noticed before. that’s the sort of thing that jimmy can’t get enough of. on his long drives through town, he sets himself only one goal: find a new place to park and take a walk around. sometimes, it gets him in trouble. most of the time, it makes new friends. 

today is not one of those random happenstance meetings. he’s been coming to eden exactly twice a week, every week, since he heard the name faust floating around the place. it’s not the classiest place by any means, but it’ll do for its purpose: information. more than an adviser, jimmy is a collector of the most valuable forms of intel. as of today, he knows a few key things: there are at least three large crime families in the city, the o’sheas, the vasiles, and the fausts. the bar that jimmy sits at now seems to be owned by a young man named dante, who drives a very nice car.

it hasn’t been nearly as difficult as jimmy had expected. in fact, as he steps foot in the den---a very interesting addition to a pretty run down looking bar---he wonders how much easier it could possibly get. there’s a part of him that asks i wonder if this is a trap; but if the fausts are familiar enough with him to set traps for him already? well, the fun is all over before it’s even begun. jimmy isn’t stupid. he understands that the risk now isn’t a few million dollars of someone else’s lost, but one very smart man once said something about having skin in the game. 

he found himself drifting through the room, observing and most importantly: hunting. it doesn’t take long to spot the guy--and wow, for being a big man he’s a little... well, honestly, a little shrimpy. but jimmy’s met some goddamn ruthless little guys in his life, so he’s choosing not to assume. never assume anything about your subject unless you have plenty of evidence to back it up. first contact: establish self (confident, sure), establish connection (careful, heavy intent), validate ego (fascination, adoration). 

‘ Whatever you do, just don’t be a dog claiming to be a wolf. ‘ now that was a powerful sentence right there. 

“You ever get up there and throw a few punches?” he asks, holding his hand out for a shake. if there is one thing jimmy and his daddy could agree with, it’s that the way a man shakes your hand tells you just about everything you should know about them. it’s a science in its own right. if he’s got the man clocked correctly, he’s going to get a firm but brief handshake, followed by niceties that aren’t entirely disingenuous.

❛ nobody’s civil anymore. ❜

“You can sure say that again, little lady.” 

for the first time in weeks, it’s not too painful to lace his fingers together over his lap. for now, it’s just going to be a whole lotta taking it slow --- which johnny has never quite been a fan of. it seems no on in chicago can just relax and take in the absolutely lovely fall breeze.