addy and steph are the (blondebat) wrote in doorslogs, @ 2013-02-14 22:42:00 |
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Kevin was pretty sure he wasn’t even remotely drunk enough for this, but he was trying to be responsible and hiding in a bottle wasn’t going to change the fact that Siobhan was in Vegas, with a person in her head no less. At least it was some teen vigilante whatever and not another princess. Kevin wasn’t so sure he could handle more people in his life being through the same door as him, even if he didn’t exactly know who he had. He just assumed it was bad and thanked his lucky stars that the man didn’t want to cross often. Trying to explain his relationship with Tess, the history there, was going to be ridiculous but if anyone deserved the story, it was Siobhan. They’d worked well together and he wasn’t quite sure whether or not she fit better into the kid sister category or kid category. Either way, it’d been hard to just up and leave her when Ariadne first showed up in his head. He’d seriously considered not going, just ignoring her, but then he’d watched as she pulled off one of the cleanest cons he’d ever seen and he knew she’d be all right without him. So off to Vegas he went. He should’ve left a note. Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. All of it was just fine and dandy but it didn’t get him anywhere. He picked her up from the motel she was staying at and he figured if this was going to be a permanent thing, maybe she’d stay with him for a while or maybe he’d get a bigger place and she could crash until he convinced Tess to move in with him. Or maybe he was just setting himself up to play the fool and this was all going to crash and burn soon. Who knew. Either way, when he pulled into one of the only diners that served alcohol, he was ready for the eating but mostly for the drinking. “Ain’t the best place, but there’s liquor and beer here and we’re gonna need it,” he offered by way of explanation. “You want better food, greasy shit, you head to Jimmy’s, three blocks thataway.” Kevin even pointed in the right direction. Las Vegas was a real pretty town, the kind of town that good southern girls got all starry-eyed for. Luckily, Siobhan was far too sharp for her own good. Yeah, those sparkling lights looked real nice, and the people were interesting, too. But, she had been round too many parts by now, seen too many folks, known too many of the tricks. Pretty lights didn’t faze her because she was the pretty light that distracted people for as long as it took for her to wrap her spindly, thieving fingers around their valuables. Before Vegas, her latest mark had been an eighty year old man in El Paso who was charmed by her gorgeous face and thick Louisianian accent. She convinced him that she was a nurse’s aide, completely licensed and everything, and wiggled her way into his heart and his wallet. She would have stayed longer, but that annoying little Stephanie started thrashing about. She was good though, that much was certain, and who knew if this was all gonna stick, right? Maybe this little bat would flit out of her head faster than she could say laissez les bon temps rouler. And if not, she’d find something new to worm her way into. Kevin might’ve gone straight when he came to Vegas, but she sure as hell didn’t come here for any of that nonsense. “It’s perfect,” she said as he pulled up and parked. Before he could say anything, she was out of the car and strolling into the diner, where she sought a booth for two. Settled down quickly, she kicked one foot up on the opposite seat and beamed over at him. “Reckon they’ve got to have something I like, right?” After a moment, their less than charming waitress saddled over to their table, and Siobhan ordered a beer for herself. While Kevin placed his drink order, she poured over the menu. “Disco fries? I suppose that’ll do,” she said, southern twang bleeding through every word. With no regard to the waitress once her order was in, Siobhan grinned towards Kevin. “So, Las Vegas.” He just shook his head as he went ahead of her, expecting nothing less. She always had a lot of energy, which he liked, and he played it off well. She was definitely the closest thing he’d had to family in the past five years. Even if it was going to complicate things, he was glad she was around. He followed behind, entering the diner just as she settled into a booth. With a smile, he slid in across from her and paid very little attention to her feet, pushing them over until he was where he wanted to be. “I’d be surprised if they didn’t,” he countered, just as the waitress approached. Kevin gave her a charming smile and asked for a beer and a burger with fries. He waited for the woman to leave before turning back to Siobhan. “Yea. Vegas. I ever tell you about my ex-wife?” He didn’t think so, but then he’d tried to put Siobhan out of his mind after he’d left her. Once the waitress strolled away, Siobhan settled in further, grabbing her paper napkin and beginning to slowly rip it to shreds. The tip of her boot nudged at his thigh incessantly, like an annoying little bug. She always thought of Kevin as the older brother she’d never had, especially when they were running around pulling the rugs under some rich fools’ feet. “No,” she said with a shrug and eyebrows raised high up her forehead. “You never said a thing ‘bout her. Ex? Someone was actually stupid enough to marry you?” She teased lightly with a bright grin. Just like a little sister would. Kevin just shrugged, not really interested in teasing just then. Tess was important to him, whether she wanted that to be true or not. He just ignored the foot, mostly because he’d grown used to it. “Yea, but she wasn’t the stupid one. We grew up together, back in Jersey. High school sweethearts. We had the best time together, up and down the coast. Can’t tell you how many honeymoons we had. She was a natural,” he explained, getting a bit lost in the memories. He focused a moment later. “For a while there, it was good. But then she wanted more. I tried settling down, but it didn’t end all that well, obviously. We divorced five years ago, after she found me in bed with some woman who got in on a con with me spur of the moment.” He still didn’t know the woman’s name. Not that it mattered. “She’s here though, and we’re...getting to know each other again.” He was doing better, that was for sure. “Try not to make me look bad, kid. She’s important to me.” Kevin gave her a warning look that was mostly serious. The nudging slowed down to a halt when she realized that he wasn’t paying her no mind at all. Well. If going straight made him like some of the old fellas from her parish, she might have to rethink all this. On the other hand, she was good at getting her way. Maybe if she pushed and batted her eyelashes, she could wriggle her way back into his brain and twist long enough to realize how good he was at pulling the rug from under people. Maybe, just maybe, she could get him back in the game. It would be such a waste if she couldn’t. “I can’t imagine you settlin’ down, Kevin,” she said, amusement clear as day in her voice. A picket fence, couple of kids, and a dog? Yeah, right. But, if that was what he wanted? “She’s here in the city? Does she have a, uh--.” Siobhan tapped her temple. If Kevin’s ex had a brain pal too things just got extra funny. “Gettin’ to know each other makes it sound like y’all got amnesia. You’re tryin’ to hook up again.” He knew it wasn’t like him, like the him that she knew at least, but it didn’t matter. “Not like anyone in this life expects it to happen,” Kevin countered with a shrug. Their drinks came and he took a hearty gulp of beer. “It ain’t anything serious or nothing, so don’t go nosing around,” he warned. Tess wasn’t going to take too kindly to this already, he knew, but he had plans for Valentine’s Day that Siobhan wasn’t going to get in the way of. Kev nodded to her question. “Yea, and yea she does. She’s off limits, kid. Maybe I’ll introduce you if you promise to play nice,” he offered, tone taking on a joking sort of lilt to it in an effort to entice her to agree. Kevin wasn’t trying to play her. He’d promised Siobhan a long time ago that he wouldn’t con her into or out of anything. It was a straight up appeal to her. “It’s been five years since we’ve seen each other, me an’ her. Last time she saw me, before here, was between the sheets with a one off. Gonna take some time, that,” he replied with a shrug. “So, you got a game plan for this place yet? Cause I’d hit the casinos if I were you. Find a nice high roller to shack up with for a bit.” “Some people think they want it. But I don’t think it ever actually sticks. Slippery slope and all that jazz.” She’d run about with some people who wanted to go straight, and they’d tried, but when she heard whispers about them weeks later going right back to it. Look at her parents. They couldn’t give it up, even when her momma gave birth to her. Ain’t nothing that can really keep a person straight, in her opinion. Not a baby or a girl or some hefty paycheck. “I ain’t promisin’ a damn thing, Kevin,” Siobhan said with a grin before grabbing her drink and chugging. Southern girl all the way. “But, I suppose I’ll try my hardest. Just ‘cause you asked all nice-like.” She beamed over at him, eyebrow quirked and bottle close to her lips. “Yeah, I can’t blame her for leavin’ you for that, mister. People like us, we’re not the marryin’ type.” Or at least she wasn’t. Not if she couldn’t gain a damn thing from it. But, she shrugged, too. “I don’t even know if I’m stayin’ for too long. Though all the bright lights make people stupid, and I love me some stupid people.” The waitress dropped the food off then, and she began to dig in immediately, popping fries into her mouth as she thought over her options. “There are plenty of my types ‘round here. I’m sure I could sniff someone out.” “We’ll see, kiddo,” was all he said about that because he knew nothing would make her think he could go straight. He was having enough doubts himself without her help and he had a feeling shit was going to get a hell of a lot harder now, but he’d keep his head on straight because he honestly didn’t think he could keep living his life the way he’d been. He’d had a taste of more, of real love, and he wanted it again. Would he end up getting that with Tess? He didn’t think so, but he’d try. He’d try until she told him no, that was for damn sure. “Tryin’ your hardest is all I’m askin’,” he replied. “That, and waitin’ til after Valentine’s Day, kay?” That one was non-negotiable. He didn’t really believe her about not sticking around for long, but he took a few of his fries instead of arguing with her. “Funny, I said the same thing too an’ I’m still here,” he teased her. “You’ll have someone eating out of your hand in a week, without a doubt. Use that Southern charm of yours,” he suggested, but it was mostly to tease her because he’d used to joke that using her accent was cheating in certain parts of the States. Siobhan couldn’t help the waggle of her eyebrows. “Valentine’s Day?” she asked, leaning forward with a wide, wide smirk, and she took a moment to look at him before popping a couple more fries in her mouth. “Hot plans, I assume. Don’t exert yourself too much now, old man, okay? Can’t have you wheelin’ into the hospital on the day of looove.” She licked the gravy off her fingers, each coming out with a pop, smack, pop, and then drank a good swig of her beer. “Vegas has too much dry heat,” Siobhan said with an eye roll. “I feel like I’m bakin’ in an oven. But, we’ll see.” She smiled over at him. Oh, yes she could have someone wrapped around her pretty little finger real quick if she wanted. Especially with her accent. “You’re so jealous, still. It’s hilarious.” “Ha. Ha. Soooo funny,” he deadpanned. He ate his food with far less fanfare than she did. She always liked to do things with a bit of a show and he prefered not to unless it was part of a con or something. “You’ll get used to it or just find a way to stay in air conditioned places,” Kevin offered when she talked about the heat. He just rolled his eyes. “Nah. I ain’t jealous. You do what you gotta do.” |