Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Apr 11, 2021 8:15:33 GMT -8
Tucked away in a private booth in the Coyote Ugly bar within New York, New York, sat Riley Sorsa with their friend and a manager @archie .
It was late after one of the rehearsals. With the show about opening, the Twilight Dancer had spent most of its nights this last week working at the New York New York theater. The discussion this evening was not about the show or the scandal that still had not been resolved. Instead, it was about a different kind of work.
"I agree we are overdue," Riley said, giving their whiskey and Rootbeer a small still with the rotation of their wrist.
"With how everything is going."
There were three knights of spring. One was not accepting vassals, and the other two were no easy choice.
"Thoughts on Nimbus?"
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2021 20:20:50 GMT -8
Done was one way to describe the fairest. He had tossed one leg onto the bench of their booth, and was leaning against the wall, he was nursing an old fashioned in his left hand, his right fidgeting on the the table. His jacket coat was messily open and no bowtie or tie at this point.
“Nice guy, parties hard, throws old money around. He is decent enough - with Piper by his side it keeps him on the straighter path. Its a project though, and you will be wrestling with his entourage along the way. I don’t know how much he can pull to protect you unless someone comes into the bar blazing.”
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Apr 12, 2021 14:25:34 GMT -8
" His connection to the entertainment industry isn't somethin' to ignore," Riley said, musing on the Elemental. Then again, Archie had plenty of leverage, and that field, shoring up might just be overkill.
"And I like his civil services. He does something good for the community with that money. Sure he's an airhead at times."
The moth paused with a self-satisfied smirk that slowly faded. Archie, without a bowtie, felt wrong. It was hard to be funny or light when he was like this. He had a rough go; recently, they both had. They ran their hand through their hair, roughing it up a bit.
"Than there is Chugunkin" Their tone suggested a mixture of feelings about the name. The Russian mobster came with a lot of...baggage, one could say. The moth looked towards Archie.
"Protection is something he can offer that Nimbus cant'..." there was an unsaid but. Riley was testing the waters to see what Archie felt about the figure.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2021 20:04:19 GMT -8
“Respect."
Archie was pretty curt when it came to describing what Chugunkin could offer. He was still staring off into the void as they chatted. Clearly not his colorful self.
“Did you know Ivory went to speak to Nimbus? Gave him shit and huffed off. She didn’t give a lick of that to Chugunkin.”
There was a listless tipping of his glass as he let the juniper burn against his lips.
“I came back, and rebuilt who I was. I made something of myself. Then I realized I had no one, and no amount of success was going to change what I was. So I make the effort. And I get shit on.”
The curse popped on his tongue like a cold soda.
“I’m no Claviger, so being a nice guy doesn't mean much I guess?”
He was probably rambling.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Apr 13, 2021 6:44:01 GMT -8
Respect.
It was sharp and dangerous. It could harm those who weren't careful or kill in the wrong hands.
"Archie," Riley paused the moth taking in their friend.
"working with Chugunkin. Could get you that kind of respect. But are you good with the costs that might come with that?"
The moth took a sip from their drink.
"I don't assume you to be naive or innocent. Your a talented manager after all " They smile at him.
"All I am saying is, I've seen the criminal side of Vegas. The people in it, and the things they will do. "
If Archie wanted to swim with the sharks, Riley wanted to make sure he was ready for what that meant.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2021 16:53:25 GMT -8
“I have to sit down and ask if the mundane is enough to convince me that being booted around is going worth it all. Sure Nimbus will pat you on the back and say there, there. Piper will look down on you as weak, and the best you can try and do is drag that cart somewhere.”
Despite talking he still only seemed half there at the moment.
“Did you know Ivory OD’d on a glamour drug?”
Casual conversation.
“That wharf rat Rowan was trying to catch who it was. Sounded pretty serious, came across my desk with ties, it was not a good time. Low and behold we are in a conversation with the Sun Banisher - who is probably lying to us about burning down a building and possibly murder. So you know what I did? Try to help Rowan figure this out. So I pushed on the Sun Banishers friend he brought. Next thing I know I have a gun to my head, and it feels like I am being sand blasted…”
A deep sigh.
“So anyway, Rowan pops claws, Agrippa can’t say sorry hard enough and I get shot in the hand and foot. That was a new experience...My fault. I pushed. I thought I was doing good. I should have figured out when Rowan valued the name of a contact more than catching the person who apparently got Ivory the drug. He didn’t care. I shouldn’t have cared either, right?”
He transferred the glass from right hand to left, and returned it to the table, tapping it twice.
“So you know what I learned? There really isn’t good, or bad. There is just who is left standing at the end of the day.”
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Apr 13, 2021 20:30:16 GMT -8
The tone of the conversation shifted at the mention of Ivory. It caused Riley to adjust their position and run their finger along the lip of their glass.
"Yeah, she told me."
The moth fell silent as Archie told them how it all went down. Hearing it slowly unravel caused a pull of tension through their body. As if someone had gripped their tendons and gave them a swift jerk. Archie wasn't wrong; he had pushed too far, at least by the Darklings book. He was playing with fire, and he got burned. It wasn't his fault entirely from the sounds of it, but none the less he paid the price.
Uncomfortable silence.
"Arch" They paused, taking a moment to try and find the words. They hated words.
The spark behind his eyes seemed dim. He was distant. It made Riley's skin crawl a bit in the discomfort of it. Those gunshots had killed a part of Archie. If he lost hope...
"There is good and evil. But survival is something else, right? Survival is about who has value and who doesn't. If you have a purpose, you have value."
Those with no value are consumed.
They push their glass aside and settled one hand on the table. The wisp's fingers drummed upon the waxed wooden surface, their nails scratching ever so slightly against it.
"I've done escort work with these kinds of guys. I've seen what they can be like, and I've heard stories from others-" I've seen what they have done to even them.
"There is power, strength, and protection. But it's also dangerous. Your steppin' into the lion's den, and it's all about value with them. How much money you have, how tough you are, how pretty or a good fuck you are. And once that value depreciates -"
They make eye contact with Archie.
"I guess what I'm sayin', Arch. Is you got to be sure if you're thinkin' walkin' that path. What will you be willing to do to maintain that value? So you can have that respect and protection? I guess in the end, the question is, how much do you desire that?"
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2021 21:30:00 GMT -8
He listened. He valued their opinion. They had chosen alongside Linden that they were in this together. This wasn’t some simple trip to the bar. This wasn’t another party. This wasn’t a meet and greet. This isn't a negotiation. A potential client. A resigning. There was no dotted line. This was the two of them. This was more real.
The Moth's words swirled in his mind. Thoughts processing. Contemplation taking place. His chest rising and falling. Methodically, slow enough to show it is consciously controlled breathing.
His head tilted, finally breaking away from whatever void it had been trapped in to lock with Riley’s own eyes. His own eyes normally were warm, if not weary, but sympathetic. Now it was just tired, but not empty. Furious.
His right hand still ached as he placed it on top of his glass and slid it across the table to clear the space between them. His hand lifted off the glass and he reached out to capture the drumming digits. He squeezed their hand.
“If dreams were free, right?”
We wouldn’t have to sleep.
“But how long do I have to get kicked around?”
Just be the goof in a bowtie.
“When it is said and done. Nimbus can’t show me what I want. Chugunkin can.”
Make them think twice about doing this again.
A pause. Does he desire that? As they spoke he squeezed their hand. Dared her to fire the arrow that would reveal just that.
“If I am not for me, who is for me; and if I am only for myself, what am I. And if not now, when?”
I will be somebody.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Apr 14, 2021 6:54:59 GMT -8
If Dreams were free.
What were their dreams? Was it not to bring stability to themselves and others? To help others grow?
Linden had spoken on it before. How it was hard to imagine beyond stability. You needed it first before you could dream of tomorrow.
They examine his eyes, watching for that warmth they had come to know, treasure and love. Instead, they found the pain and anger of a wounded man. The dream maker was still in there; he had to be. If he needed this, truly...
There was a dry, sour taste in their mouth that crawled its way up from their gut. Spite.
They wanted to hurt who did this to Archie, make them regret doing this to him. he never deserved this, any of it.
"Ah'rite" a deep breath.
"If you're fixin' to do this, it comes with some conditions. First, you need to remember who you are. You're a dream maker, don't you ever forget that—respect, safety, power. Mean shit if that's all that matters. Got it?"
They tap the table a few times to emphasize the point. "Got it?"
"Second. You ain't alone. We are doing this together, and that means Linden too. This won't be easy. The people, the situations-"
Could Archie do the things Riley had heard about, seen? They doubted it; in fact, they didn't want him to, but someone had to. They would rise together or be consumed together.
Riley sighed and looked at Archie in the eyes.
"If we are doing this...I need you to tell me, you want this. If you can do that. I am with you, but don't you fuckin' dare say it if there is any doubt."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2021 13:11:29 GMT -8
“What good is it to make something, if someone is just going to come around and break it? Weakness attracts thuggery. If I don’t do something I risk losing everything. Every effort put forward. Every relationship forged. If I don’t make something of myself nothing I do will be respected. So at this stage do I settle for shuffling around listlessly and hoping I don’t get stepped on? Do I risk becoming an accessory? Or do I go to the one person who has preserved, who has earned respect.”
He squeezed their hand.
“I don’t know if I could make this choice if I was wandering through this on my own. Now? Not only am I a liability to myself but to you and Linden. I don’t want to be that burden. That risk. The two of us doing this? We will make people understand who we are.”
“This is just the next step. Are you ready?”
There was no waver.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on Apr 15, 2021 7:40:37 GMT -8
The darkling said, gripping Archie's hand in their own as if letting go would let him, or perhaps themself, fall. Riley saw no other path; they needed to rise and rise together. If that meant stepping into the lion's den, then so be it. They will dance among the predators and filth of this city. But perhaps with each other, they can come out on the other side. Better, stronger, and more beautiful for it.
"Ah'rite, then we're doing this" The moth took a breath.
They had made this promise once before, and it remained true than as it did now.
" We'll make them see, We will make them respect us. Before we're done, they will regret ever doubting you."
The path was set.
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