Never Ending
Who: Brett and Moira
Where: Rock Bottom
When: PM
Brett was less than impressed - not that that was a particularly huge change of mood for him or anything, but having been up all night with one of the Jade Lotus outfits waiting for a shipment to come in, it felt like he'd hardly crawled back into bed before some bastard had been hammering at the door telling him that 'Mr O'Malley needed his ass down at Rock Botoom to help out'. As if they didn't have enough people who could have done that crap and left him to get some actual shut eye.
And so it was that the Brett that turned up at the bar was an even more dishevelled, crumpled, moody-looking man than normal. He'd dragged last night's clothes back on again, even though they were still damp from the spray off the water overnight, and he hadn't shaved, which made that three days worth of stubble and counting. He ran a hand over the scruff as he looked around, trying to figure out who was in charge of the damn place, so he could figure out what he was needed to do, do it, and fuck off home again.
..
Moira looked up just in time to see Brent come in. Finally, she thought. After the crew had made fools of themselves in front of the man who'd wandered in earlier today, she realized that she needed someone else in here to keep an eye on the boys, plus who could actually do a bit of work in the plumbing and electrical departments. Adjusting her position in her chair and making sure she looked like a women of her status should, she wheeled out into the bar, a smile on her face that did not reach to her eyes.
"Well, now," she said as she approached him. "If it isn't Officer Trent." She couldn't resist digging in just a little more. "You look like hell, Trent. Hope my boys didn't wake you or anything." Of course, she knew they probably had. She had a feeling he'd been out at least the night before, possibly longer. "Glad you could make it."
Brett's eyes flashed at the
Brett's eyes flashed at the mention of his rank, but he held back any kind of commentary as he looked down at her. He understood the ways you treated your superiors, and she was definitely above him, far above him, in the pecking order. Still, he knew she only called him 'officer' to get a rise out of him - she'd just have to be happy with a silent one, knowing that he held the rest back. He knew he hadn't managed to hide it. He was too tired for that. "What do you need me for?" he asked, his voice low and gruff, cutting to the point, skipping any suggestion of niceties.
..
"No foreplay?" Moira asked with a mock pout. "How do you ever get on with the ladies, Trent?" Of course, she had no real interest in him- not sexually anyways- but it was still always fun to tease him. Just poke that lion a little bit. See if the fight really is out of him.
"Basically, I need a foreman." She cut right to business as well, motioning to the bar, which was quiet right now while the workers were on their lunch break. "This lot's fairly worthless, and this place must be ready for opening Friday night." She pointed at Brett. "You, you've taken charge with people before." She waved off any protest he could make before they had a chance to escape. "And don't try telling me otherwise either. I heard all about your 'heroism' during the library fire." She smiled, letting the comment hang in the air for a moment, knowing that probably wasn't the most pleasant of memories for him. "Anyways, this won't be anything nearly as dangerous as that." She looked up at some of the rather rickety scaffolding that'd been created. "Or it shouldn't be, at least."
Brett stayed staunch,
Brett stayed staunch, concentrating on not reacting openly as she seemed to systematically push each one of his buttons, all those little sore spots, dragging up every element of his past that it was painful to remember. Everything he'd been and been proud of, and which he needed to seem like he'd completely forgotten and left behind. And which he would actually prefer to forget and leave behind, though for different reasons. He needed to make them believe he'd left that all behind because anything else would be a danger to him and his skin. And he wished he could leave it behind because what he was now was a betrayal of what he'd been. "I'm not a builder, never have been," he pointed out, barely looking at her, concentrating an inch or so above her head.
..
Moira chuckled. "Oh, dearie, I know that. I just need someone to keep an eye on these morons and make sure they actually work so I can get some work done." She jerked a thumb towards the back room. "Particularly in the back room. The front of house, if it's a bit run down, it adds character. But in the back, that has to be perfect." She smiled like a cat cornering a mouse. "Unless, of course, you prefer working down at the docks in the rain. In which case, I can definitely arrange that for you." She looked him straight in the eyes, even if he wasn't looking at her. "I hear some people have caught a death of a cold down there."
.
Brett's eyes batted down to finally meet hers, though he managed to keep them emotionless this time. "Whatever you think best. You want people kept in line, I can do that," he told her, not appreciating the veiled threat, simply because it wasn't needed. She was just throwing her weight around and whilst he was sensible enough to know that she could follow through with her threats if it suited her, he wasn't going to cower in a corner because of them.
..
Moira knew the threat wasn't necessary. But she enjoyed watching people squirm and was a little disappointed that he hadn't. Trent was made of pretty strong stuff, though, so she wasn't particularly surprised. "Wonderful," she said with a smile. "I knew I'd found the right man for the job. Now, one last question. You wouldn't happen to know anyone who could take care of some work in the gents' for me, would you? Or might be able to do some electrical work? Nothing too dangerous, of course," she added with a little bit of a purr.
.
Brett's eyes narrowed very slightly as he wondered what exactly she was asking here. He wondered if she was fishing - and, if she was, why she was. he knew he had the skills to get done what he imagined she wanted, but she had a team of workmen here, so one of them should have the skills. That's what they were being paid for. Brett himself didn't shout about being able to do anything but bash people's heads together on occasion. it suited him for people to think there was little to him. "I can ask around - I'm sure someone here would know how to do that. Or would you prefer me to make some calls, get in an expert?" he asked her, continuing his formal politeness as a direct response to her needling of him.
..
"Don't worry about it, Trent, I can handle it," she said with a smile. It never hurt to try to get a feel for other people's skills, even if the only one that Trent was showing now was infuriating politeness. "I'm a big girl, you know. Even if I don't look it sometimes." She leaned back a little in her chair. "All right then, your first job is to tell those morons that lunch break is over, yes?" She gave him a wink. "I'm sure you can keep them in line, Officer."
.
"I'm aware that you're more than capable," Brett told her, trying to pick his words carefully, half tempted to ignore the comment about her being a big girl entirely, but deciding that that may not be the best tack to take. And anyway, he couldn't ignore everything, and he definitely didn't want to rise to the 'officer' jibe again. Seemingly, she wasn't going to let that one go. Maybe if he didn't react, she'd get bored and drop it eventually. "I'll leave it to you then and go see about the men in the back."