tampered | ongoing; open

When; during the All That Jazz curse
Rating; PG to start; may increase with comments
Characters; OPEN
Summary; Prohibition is for other people, not us.
Log;

You've probably walked by this shop a thousand times before and never taken a look. There's no sign and it hardly looks open, but it is, trust me, and if you were to wander up to the door in curiousity, you'd be able to go inside.

The counter girl is friendly, sweet, and innocent-seeming-- she will smile at you and show you the antiques. But if she isn't there, you might be greeted by the owner-- a tall, dark-haired woman who dresses like she belongs in the caberet, not like a businesswoman.

But if you know her well, or have spoken to the right people, then maybe you can find the back door to this "antique shop." In the speakeasy below, alcohol flows freely (courtesy of the quiet bartender), the atmosphere is smoky, and everyone is happy. Well, everyone is drunk, anyway, which is nearly as good, in Yuuko's opinion.

There is a certain policeman always poking his nose into things, but so far, secrets are safe.

And if you're looking for a good time, this is the place to be.

[ooc: Feel free to start threads in the antique shop, in the bar, doing whatever with the exception of no police raids, please. This post is open to any and all, whether you've met any of the mentioned characters or not. Please mark threads as closed or open; if you want Yuuko specifically please feel free to page her in the subject line of your comment.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"R-really?" he asked, looking at Umi with wide eyes, so wide you might actually see them behind those bangs of his. He could imagine Umi ever messing up.

"It took a while to get me out of the shell, let's just say." She confessed.

She usually didn't like talking about her 'previous life', as she called it. Really. Someone as young as her already had enough trouble earning some respect in the business. She didn't need people commenting around about her formerly being daddy's posh doll.

But Ascot was in need of reassurance, and in no way did Umi want him to believe she was free of fault. "I think you learn from scratch, when it comes to things like this. Mine was a lot like a crash course." More like learn fast or die. But that was what she'd signed up or. "You'll get there too."

"I sure hope so," he replied, now feeling somewhat reassured thanks to Umi's honesty. "I can't keep messing up or I'll let everyone down."

"Well. You've never let me down." That was hardly a lie: Umi understood learning the trade step by step like no one else. "And I don't think you'll do that anytime soon."

"No! I'd never let you down Miss Umi!" He shook his head. That was the one thing he really never wanted to do. Messing up put him in danger, but he didn't want Umi to be in danger because of him.

"I trust you." With her life, in quite a fact. Just like she trusted herself to get him out of trouble at the littlest slip. "We make a good pair. Everyone agrees!"

"They do?" He looks and feels rather surprised to hear that. He was sure most people would only complain about his bad work...but if people thought they were a good pair, well maybe he wasn't in such a bad spot after all.

"So I hear! We're a team, right? At least most of the time." If anyone thought otherwise they at least had never dared say anything to Umi's face. Her terrible temper and how quick with the blade she was really were the stuff of legend.

"Right," he nods. "...thank you for putting up with all my mistakes Miss Umi. It really means a lot."

"Now, now. Don't talk about yourself like that." She gives his shoulder a companionable pat. "It's not putting up, it's cooperating. You don't want our coworkers to think you don't have confidence in yourself, right?"

"Of course not!" he replied, trying to at least sound more confident. "I'll keep trying my hardest for everyone."

There were very few things in life Umi enjoyed more than seeing a flustered Ascot eager to prove himself. A sword ready in her grip was one of them. But right now she wouldn't exchange this for anything.

"I know you will. And I'm really proud of you!" She assured him, gesturing to the barman so Ascot and her could have a glass of something soft that wouldn't make them too blurry-headed for minding business. If they were going on a job together that, in Umi's book, merited a little toast. "We all are! Have you been practicing your aim at the range lately?"

"Oh, yes," he nodded and watched as Umi easily ordered the drinks. He still acted like someone getting their first drink whenever he tried to order something at the bar. "I was there yesterday practicing."

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