#rakeshthreads

Rakesh had good days and they had bad days, on good days everyone got a smile, every dog got a bone, and every criminal they encountered was a friend first, enemy second. They would hand out tasks and give people a pat on the back, or ruffle some hair. On good days, they’d send their kid a text - though she really shouldn’t be having a phone - checking up on her, telling her they’re proud, asking how homework is going. Whatever. On good days, nobody can tell Rakesh they aren’t doing a damned good job. 

On bad days however, their always ruffled hair was even more ruffled, on bad days they gave people passing by a frown rather than a hello, on bad days: caffeine was usually the culprit. 

They sat hunched over their cup of coffee, but it had come too late, the headache was already there, the rage had already settled. Seeing other capos from rival gangs was probably the last good thing for their well-being, but with how much they were leaning forward, they couldn’t blame Ryuji that he hadn’t recognised them. The looked up though, eyebrows low over their eyes, yet frowning as well. “Must be my lucky day,” they said, dripping with sarcasm.

Rakesh bit their lower lip as Lux appeared, frowning slightly. Not that meeting up with the Jade Tribe underboss was that strange, it happened far more than they were comfortable with after all, but not that often at their place. This is where they met the soldiers, the associates, anyone they needed to do the jobs their bosses told them to do, where they'd brief them. A sanctuary to them, and the perfect cover. Even if people raided this place, there would be nothing for them to find.

"To what do I owe the pleasure," they said, taking off their lab coat for the day, and washing their hands roughly with soap after the amount of plastic gloves they'd worn. "Or did you know I was going to go for coffee? And do you know I love company?"

Rakesh, absent-mindedly, gave the little dude a good ruffle as he stepped outside of his practice, lab coat exchanged for a thick wool coat that reached down to his knees. They smiled brightly, their hair surprisingly well styled for the time of the year and moment of the day, probably because they hasn't wrestled any big dogs today. They smelled like one though, or several ones. "Coffee," they told the other, who they considered a colleague or an employee, depending on what their answer would be to the suggestion.

Rakesh put the steaming mug and the plate on the table in front of the boss before taking a seat himself with his 700ml mug of pure caffeine. He smiled, like a dog wanting to please its owner. He was a loyal bastard, always had been, no matter who he worked for. Sure, he might question things at times, he might not always agree, but if he did, it was only because he liked to have a good understanding of everything. It rarely annoyed him, he just wanted to know things. However, when things weren't business related, he made sure to be the best company he could be. "There you go Boss, your order made to perfection," they said, proudly, as if they'd personally made it.