orangetoughguy | log post II

[Papaya is tasty. Everyone should have some. Though if they did the market for diamonds would go down. Oops. Yep. That is why the old man keeps having some at breakfast. No diamonds have appeared out of him. Sam is working it like a pro. One after the other. Does it hurt or something? So far he seems okay. Huh.]

Okay.

[Now Freddy's a clean, well dressed package.]

Now we get a move on and head downtown.

[Normally the underground but things have been different.]

If you don't mind, I'm gonna do the talkin'. You might wanna take notes.

Not gonna slick my hair back?

[He jokes while combing it back himself, except then it just flops down and forward. Needs more gel and a trim. Hrm. No tie, blazer, or shades keeps this from being heist-like at least.]

Okay, teacher.

Not today. [Looking at those flopping strands of not blonde not brown either hair he's got to comment.] Gonna get that cut one of these days?

[Down the stairs, hum de dum as they would in an ordinary outing.]

Oh. Almost forgot. Grab your shades.

I dunno, should I?

[He gives that hair a gentle puff of air which only makes it all fall right back into place. Oh there we go. He gives Larry a curious but brief look before picking those up. Freddy unfolds them then slips them on, real slick Clubmasters, a different character from Larry's Wayfarers.]

Better?

I like it but sure is gettin' long.

[Neutral statement much? He's gonna like Freddy one way or the other but somehow longer locks suit the man. Nothing too short he'd hope. Besides he's grown accustomed to grabbing a hold of it.]

Much better.

[Freddy Newendyke is a good looking son of a bitch. He should know every trick in the book. Yep. The old man holds the door open for the kid. Out they go on the field trip.]

[He's grown accustomed to having it grabbed so that works out for the both of them. Freddy steps on out only to look Larry over again. He's not a bad looking guy either, hardly. And the time they've spent here alone has shown just how desirable Lawrence Dimick can be, he can't begin to fathom the United States. Wanted in more ways than one, you got lucky, Newendyke.]

So am I gonna be tested or something? I mean cause you said I gotta take notes and I gotta tell ya I wasn't a real good student when it came to notes and books.

[When was Freddy last in on anything? Larry can't recall if he asked. He's got to know that he's got looking to women, men too if their jaunts here have taught him anything. Mr. Orange's education has been very diverse in the City. Today's another lesson, just not that kind.]

Naw. Not tested. Just there's a lot I'm gonna talk about and show you. Might be hard to remember. I remember shit when I write it down at least once. Figure it wouldn't hurt. ...You wanna quiz?

[Well, only one of them made it through high school so...]

Okay, you're the expert. The professional.

[Freddy enunciates clearly complete with hand gestures of the whimsical sort. Er, about the quiz part though, he waves a hand again.]

No thanks. You can trust me to learn right.

[Bill Hex and Jonah Pecos are now making their way to the bank. Larry spares a glance at his pupil.]

That's how you do it. Make it as brief as possible check the work as you're there even if it makes em sweat. The worst thing is getting all the way someplace and finding out that someone put an F where an M should be.

[The forger got them a nice, neat stack of checks too. The handiwork is more impressive than that on their fake IDs checks you gotta be very careful with obviously.]

Any questions so far?

[The're still walking obviously in route to another leg of the trip.]

.............

[Yeah, like why are you teaching me this?? But Freddy's not gonna risk Larry's safety with an outburst either. Right now however they're still in canvasing mode so Jonah Pecos just has to say something.]

Why are you telling me this? You didn't forget did you?

[Forget what Freddy Newendyke really is.]

No. I didn't.

[How could he? Okay. Strike that. There could be a curse but honestly how fair of a question is that at all. The old man can never forget that detail. It's what they gotta live with. He pauses midstep and backs them to an alley between two buildings.]

Look, this is shit you should know in case something happens.

[To Mr. Bill Hex himself. Or to Jonah Pecos if he's got nowhere else to go or nothing else to do.]

You just gotta know.

[Freddy backs into the alley with Larry, hardly concerned with the proximity or his company. He trusts Lawrence Dimick with his life. This is just confusing to the kid.]

Like what? What's gonna happen? Do you have a big job coming up?

[One that even Mr. White doubts might be successful? Larry wouldn't take up such a mission, would he?]

[The old man removes his glasses and folds them up to sit in his pocket for now.]

No. I don't have a job coming up.... I'm sayin' if I get into something big and bad and you need cash or you need to get a clean start all over on your own this is what you should keep in mind. Okay?

[No, no future plans. Didn't he make a promise not to do anything to fuck up what they got? Well, they're only going through the motions. That shouldn't be anything big. He huffs a sigh.]

We're not gonna do nothing. Just casing a joint. That's all. I don't like thinking of shit going to hell but it could. I want you to be ready.

[The kid feels simultaneously patronized and flattered. Of course he'd go through all the motions for Freddy's own good, Larry's that kind of man, but Freddy knows a thing or two about casing a joint and pulling the right moves to get in with the crooks themselves. Though that didn't turn out so good for him did it? Had Blonde not gone fucking rogue on them maybe things would be different, vastly different. He doesn't want to think about it.]

Okay...if you don't have a job coming up... [He tilts his own shades down low enough on that big nose to look at Larry.] Okay.

I don't.

[He sees the unease and reaches up to give the kid's forearm a squeeze.]

No jobs outside of work, baby. Nothing big is goin' on. I'm okay. I figure though what good is all I know if I'm not passing it along. You could learn without the hard knocks.

[Sure, it is coming out far more patronizing as he means it to be, hell, Freddy's got this far in life. Except that's following that straight and narrow in most ways. Hopefully it'll keep on working for him. But if it doesn't? There's got to be a parachute for him to be able to rely on. The old man wants to be there for the kid in LA. There may be means keepin' them apart. So maybe, just maybe this'll help.

Blonde could drop in. Should that happen, they gotta be ready for anything.]

Edited 2011-05-03 22:06 (UTC)

[That squeeze to his forearm is comforting, like a solid confirmation of his words. If there was something big going on he'd tell him. For sure. Freddy puts his hand under Larry's elbow and nods twice, glasses pushed up again. Another moment of catching his breath and he tilts his head.]

You don't think Bill Hex and Jonah Pecos are kinda funny names?

[It's a joke, maybe poorly timed, but he has a point too. Those are names a guy like Freddy Newendyke would remember, giving them backstories and superhero names too while he's at it.]

[His other paw combs back the kid's hair touching for the sake of reassurance. It wouldn't be a good idea to lock lips here. They are gonna get going shortly.]

Yeah. I don't plan on us keepin' them. Just for today, you know?

[Now he'll be getting his own sunglasses back on.]

I got it. [Another nod.] You had me for a second there.

[Freddy remarks with regards to a potentially big big job going down. While Larry's putting his shades back down Freddy's taking out his smokes for a stick. It'll calm him down faster and add to his too cool image. No one would ever suspect underneath it all he's a guy who loves his comic books, and toucan, and old man.]

Sorry.

[And the ol' bear really, really means it.]

After you wanna go get some real good eats? We haven't been in a coons age.

[Larry gets his lighter for Freddy. While they're at it he'll get his own smokes. Don't think the food is a bribe, just a pacifier. Shit he didn't think it would be that big of a deal. Apparently not. Too strong of an approach? It doesn't matter anymore. Luckily they're on the same ground. Chesterfield alight he holds the flame ready for the kid.]

It's cool, man. [Puff puff, he holds his cigarette to the offered flame, the moment itself brief yet almost unbearably intimate.] Without a jacket? I'll get thrown out.

[Freddy gives a little smirk for that which isn't the same thing as refusing the old man of course. Another puff and he runs his fingers through his hair.] You really know what you're talking about.

[It's casual praise, the same thing as saying Mr. White is one mighty fine fucking professional. Mr. Joe Armed Robbery, been behind bars only twice and for less than five years total or something. How does anyone get that kind of break without being damn good at what he does? Even a cop can appreciate that expertise, like he's undercover all over again.]

Just means we'll have to head home and get spiffed up the right way.

[Jacket and something to keep that long hair of Freddy's slicked back. Puff, puff.]

Thanks. I oughta by now. [After all he's been through. Again he thinks it'll be best to pass some of it along. Even if the other man never puts it to good use he'll get an idea of the frame of mind. Plus, if they run away to Mexico there'll be a ton of other lessons like this. There'll be over lap with cop stuff the old man figures but hey. Who ever suffered from learning too much?]

Ready to keep going?

[The bank is a few streets over.]

I wouldn't dream of letting you suffer some kinda embarrassment over me.

[The kid snorts but it's a pleasant endearing kind of snort. Yes a jacket and some hair slicking will do, but Freddy would be lying if he said he wasn't also keeping a close eye on Dimick, to see if he acts out in any way detrimental to their happiness. Could be a curse. The night they shot up a liquor store started out this way. Shit Newendyke have you no conscience? This man cuts off fingers or kills to steal if necessary.

Nope, guess he doesn't have a conscience either. Or rather he shares the same murky gray kind.]

Yeah, let's keep goin'.

Same here, big guy.

[The words usually would go with a healthy ruffling of his hair. That moment has passed. Strolling on the street now, smoking as they go like real fucking cool guys.]

Now, we're not gonna circle the block. We're gonna go in about this hour [he checks the time] there may be a post lunch lull so we can take our time. You can play eyes. Make note of the bathroom, the exits, what kind of a door they have to behind the counter.

I can do that. [Freddy nods.] You ever wonder why this place has a bank? Island's barely big enough to hold an economy but none of that shit's federally insured, so.

[Freddy throws this tidbit out there just to make casual conversation, not to suggest hitting one of the city's banks is a good idea. Actually it's probably a terrible idea compared to knocking a bank off in the Palisades or something. The people here could have magical security measures or fucking lasers in their fingertips.]

Some people don't believe in socks underneath their mattresses.

[Hey. come on. That's what the old man grew up with.]

Money has to move. That's what it does.

[Wait a second come to think of it...]

There's the underground too. Who can say how big this place really is in the end.

[And to the door they go. The old man holds it open for the kid.]

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