#rivalsofnyc: starter

“Shit,” she mumbled as she exited the vehicle. She was sure to bring her jacket with her as she went to check under her hood. After pulling it on, she lifted the auto top with another perturbed exhale. She was about to curse again when she sensed the presence of someone behind her. Then, she was quick to quell her anger in efforts to meet their kindness with gratitude. Not quite turned around yet, she called out, “It should be okay. I know how to fix this... I think.”

And it was true she wasn’t having a long day, not by any relatable definition. She was actually what some might conclude to be content, her wavy hair curling in and out of view of a resting simper. Her comfort was to be expected, seeing as how she does love her alone time. Yet, today had yielded absolutely no human contact, dead or alive, and she could not do what others did when they found themselves unmotivated by anything in particular. She tried taking a walk, grocery shopping, even leaving a message for the hospital asking them to quite literally throw her a bone. None of that equated to the day’s purpose, which brings us to her current whereabouts. A bar—the place for overpriced liquor and dumb conversation.

“Can I see that bottle,” Nyla requested earnestly once the bartender returned, “I just want to see who makes it,” she lied as she took the bottle and gave her glass a long, sophisticated pour. “Thanks,” she said before the man’s gasp could transform into protest. Then, before she dove nose first into the fresh cup of Rye, she satisfied herself with something other than the long awaited taste of Whiskey—her first witty quip of the last forty-eight hours.

“Now you may charge me twenty bucks for this. ”

She was distantly aware of the people around her and that maybe one of them might be witnessing this, but she kept her gaze straight, always one to remain unbothered until formally provoked.

Domino didn’t come to Moonlight as often as one might think. She truly believed in order to do her job well she had to avoid obvious evidence of her affiliation. However, she didn’t expect any Royals to be strolling in here, especially after recent events, and any civilians that labeled this place their go-to could see her and think themselves no different. Not to mention, she needed this drink giving how her mind had been working tirelessly to craft a trap that could ensnare the people that’d caused more strife in the last few months than she had the patience for. In fact, she was thinking of it now even as someone took up the space beside her. If she were to guess, it was an informant preparing to give her the updates she required. That was usually why she came here, to allow them a stable location to provide intel while still teaching them the art of having a conversation whose meaning rested cryptically between the lines. She turned to witness the presence of her new found company, a generous offer leaving her lips before she even knew who the person next to her was. She figured the likeliness of her regretting it was slim.

“You want what I’m drinking? Or can I get you something different?”