Oh Ben! She's Too Young For You!
Who: Ivy "Devildriver" Casius and Ben! When: 10pm Where: Avarice
It was a busy night at Avarice. Far busier than an average weeknight, actually. Ben was loving it though... he was in his usual spot near the bar, where he could easily mingle, do business, and flirt with, well... every woman that walked his way. He was also busy with his mysterious 'other business', which hardly anyone seemed to know about. All anyone seemed to know was that Ben was involved with something else, something that helped him fund the building and opening of this club. The Bales were wealthy... but for this club? Yeah, even they didnt have THAT kind of money just laying around. He was decked out in slightly more casual gear tonight: dressy black jeans, black boots, and an open black silk shirt over a red Pantera shirt.
"You know it's illegal to let minors into a bar or club that serves alcohol, right?" Ivy Casius was fifteen years old, tall for her age, but scrawny, with whip-cord muscles and eyes far too old to belong to a teenager. She came up behind him and pulled one of his cigars from his shirt breast pocket, and bit off the end. Spitting that out, she patted down her own pockets - military khaki pants and a white wife beater that she hadn't managed to get all the blood stains out of were what she was wearing. And a pair of steeltoed boots. Finding one, she lit it. There was nothing quite like watching a fifteen year old puffing on a cigar. "When's payday?"
Ben liked this kid. She took no shit, but also knew that he was the boss, and sometimes had to treat him as such. "When you get to the arena Friday night for the fight, you'll get your payout for last week. Plus, for putting on such a good show, there's gonna be a little something extra in the amount this time."
"Hmph." Satisfied, for the moment, Ivy nodded and whistled at the bartender - and ordered a scotch. She liked to push boundaries as to what she could get away with, in these small ways. The bartender just looked at Ben with a raised eyebrow.
"Zak? You give this girl liquor and I'll have you in jail faster than you can imagine. Give her soda." He looked at her and smiled. He had figured out by now that she was a Slayer... but the more he got to know her... he was beginning to wonder if SHE knew. "So... just inquiring about payday or are you here for something else?"
"Well, I wanted a drink." Ivy said grouchily, still with the cigar, but she eased up slightly and ordered a ginger ale.
"You know... you keep up the good work, you COULD be in line for a title shot soon." He grinned that impossibly snarky grin of his, and winked at her. "I guess we'll have to see..."
"Yeah, right, you just want me in the damn death matches because they make you more money." She didn't hold it against him, though. Ivy knew full well she was a commodity, and not a person. She was just a commodity that happened to talk back.
"Never said a death match, kid. You're way too valuable to me to risk like that. I just mean a shot at the champion." He smirked.
"You've got plenty of fighters." Ivy took the cigar from her mouth and tapped the ash off. "So why can't I have a drink?"
"Because you're underage." Ben laughed and gave her that wolfish grin. "And I'm very selective with what laws I break with underage girls."
"Awuh, muffin. You know that you get kisses for five hundred dollars, and I'll play nice for more then that." She gave him that same grin back and took another puff on the cigar. "It'd totally be fun."
"Just because you're my favorite fighter doesn't mean I'm not still you boss. Show some respect." He laughed. "At least call me MISTER Muffin."
"Five hundred or no kisses and no mister or master or whatever the hell you want me to call you." Ivy smiled overly brightly at him, and overly vapidly, obviously able to go from negotiator to airhead at the drop of a hat when needed.
"Joke all you want, but I've never had to pay a woman for a kiss in my LIFE, thank you." He smirked, getting a kick out of her attitude. "Besides... have you seen my girlfriend?"
"Seven fifty and I'll play nice with your girlfriend while you watch." Ivy gave him a smug look.
Ben blinked and chortled a little. "Now... THAT I would totally pay for. Of course... with quid quo pro and everything... favors could lead to championship matches, and titles? ALWAYS mean more money."
"Money is money is money. I want it, you have it, you should totally just give it all to me." She snickered.
He sighed, and pulled a hundred dollar bill from his pocket, slipping it into her hand. He didn't admit it often, but he had a soft spot for the kid. "Here... go buy yourself something nice tomorrow."
Ivy took it without a second thought. "Will do. You want to see a nipple or something in return?"
"You're worse than me sometimes. Just don't get yourself killed this week, ok? You got Gator this time, and the motherfucker's nuts, you know that." Of course, a 280 pound green demon with a crocodile-esque head was bound to be...
"Shiiii-ite." Casius swore. "She bites, you know that? Like, literally."
"Yes... well... if you get a shot at the title you'll be against a MAN who's just as vicious. So buck up." He chuckled, giving her a playful swat on the ass.
"Sometimes God on high steps down from his lofty perch amongst the clouds, points at a baby boy, and says 'Yo. This one shall have balls of fucking granite.' I don't believe, however, this occurred to any of the male fighters in your employ." Ivy finished the cigar - apparently she hadn't wasted time enjoying it - and stubbed it out in the ashtray. "The females, on the other hand..."
"You truly are a prize, my dear. One day, you're going to make some sadistic, sadomasochistic man very happy." He said with a snarky laugh.
"Hey, as long as I live long enough to get a damn drink." Casius smiled ever so sweetly back.
"Yeah, yeah.... come on. Let's go to the office. You gotta sign off on your next couple fights." He mentioned, pointing toward the back office.
"Lead, and I shall follow. For the moment." Casius stood up, cracking her back. "You got the sound system down there working yet? Stigmata was bitching along with me that we want our damn music back."
"Yeah, it's all fixed. Now move." He laughed, walking with her.