The New Thief Taker

Posted on Sat May 23rd, 2020 @ 9:57pm by Black Market Nikolai Udinov & Black Market Arturo Rosso

Mission: Bright and Shiny things
Location: Deck Five: Lucky 38 Casino
Timeline: Not long after "A Reunion, a Brawl, and a Cheerful Idiot"

Arturo was dressed as he always was, like a gentleman... of sorts. He wore a frock coat over a vest and a shirt. This time the shirt collar around which his silk cravat was tied was fastened. He wore what looked like snug fitting breeches that accented some of his better qualities, and tall boots. The restrictive look of his clothing was an illusion he actively maintained. All of his clothing was tailored to allow for freedom of movement. As a Free Scholar of Roman, Italian, and Sicilian martial arts, and the child of a Magister, he was a fighter born and bred and was not foolish enough to allow fashion to hamper his ability to defend his life or his honor. He wore a top hat and carried a sword cane. The cane, which was both a fashion statement and a weapon, was a bit long for the style of Osiris at that time, but only just, and didn't look that out of place on Arturo's six foot, two and a half inch frame. The blade was indeed deadly, but even used as an impact weapon, the sword cane was a formidable tool for self defense, especially in Arturo’s hands.

Arturo was a handsome young man of 24 years, handsome almost to the point of being 'pretty', but with his size and his athletic build, he exuded a noticeable ruggedness. Foolishness over a woman had driven him from his home. His family's connections to the Lastra Family of the Italian Mafia had arranged an introduction to Nikoli Udinov, Bratva boss and owner of the Lucky 38 Casino on Greenleaf Skyplex. A deal had been made and Arturo was to be offered employment. The Bratva had implied that it would be work that fit his skillset. Arturo hoped that it would be something involving security at the casino, or something similar. Even protecting the working men and women at a brothel. He could find some honor in that.

Arturo arrived at the Lucky 38 and was of course stopped by security about his cane… and his cuteddu ammanicatu (a long folding Sicilian fighting knife), both the one in his belt across the small of his back, and the one in his right boot. They also took issue with the San Fratellano (more of a utilitarian pocket knife) he kept in his pocket. They wished to relieve him of these items. Arturo suggested this might be an unwise course of action. The floor manager noticed the ruckus and came over. The woman was about to order security to throw Arturo out, when he showed her a small medallion he had been instructed to present to Nikoli Udinov himself. She froze, then told Arturo to wait there, while she went to see if her boss had time in his schedule.

“Tian Di Wu Yowng.” Nik uttered the statement as his cold, dark eyes bored into the man standing across from him. Luckily for the idiot, there was the desk between them. A desk that Nik shifted behind, leaning back in his chair as his gaze stayed on the nervous man occupying space in the office. He had been an idiot, and true to Nik’s statement, useless. That was something he just could not abide by, not in his line of work -legal or illegal. Not that he would ever freely admit to anything of the illegal sort. His gaze darted to the other man in the room, Alexi, who was standing off to the side waiting. But Nik didn’t have time for this. “Deal with it.” He demanded dismissively. This was not the sort of incompetence he wanted to deal with today, and quite honestly he didn’t need anyone in his organization that was this sort of incompetent.

What he hadn’t been expecting was the knock that sounded at his door mere moments after Alexi had closed it. Didn’t anyone know how to do their gorram jobs without bothering him every five minutes? “Войти.” The command to enter was harsh. He lifted his gaze to the door as it opened, revealing a member of actual casino security. Nik beckoned her to enter, his eyes dropping to the medallion she held out to him instead of speaking. Rising, Nik buttoned his jacket and rounded his desk, taking the small medallion from her and turning it over in his hand. “Show me.”

It wasn’t long before she was leading them towards a smartly dressed young man. So smartly dressed that Nik didn’t think he had been on the ‘plex overly long, since there weren’t many people that would dress in such a manner, Even his own attire was more business suits. His dark gaze pursued the man, taking his time and drawing the moment out to see just how the young man would react under such scrutiny.

“To what do I owe this...pleasure?”

To his credit, Arturo withstood this close scrutiny and the extended silence without flinching. "Arturo Rosso, at your service," he said. "Donna Zenobia Lastra sends her regards. As she discussed with you, I am, of late, no longer welcome on Osiris. Donna Zenobia wished me to convey her gratitude to you for agreeing to find me a position here. I have been instructed by Donna Zenobia to offer my skills in your service here at your casino. I can acquit myself well hand to hand, and I am skilled with various blades both long and short, and skilled with a cane and other sticks. I am familiar enough with gambling and gaming to recognize when someone is cheating. If you give me a chance to prove myself, Mister Udinov, I will not disappoint you."

To his credit, and much to Nikolai’s satisfaction, Arturo didn’t waste time in fancy, placating words. Instead the young man jumped right into his reason and reasoning. The lady he spoke of had indeed reached out to Nik, and he had felt that he just might could use someone with Mr. Rosso’s abilities in the Lucky 38. And maybe if Arturo was lucky, he could branch out into the other dealings that Nikolai was known for. In certain communities. It wasn’t like he waltzed around the Skyplex flexing his Bratva muscles. He was a businessman after all. “Donna Zenobia said I would not be disappointed. And I don’t like to be disappointed, Mr. Rosso.”

It was then his dark eyes left the young man and took a wandering roam about the room, “There has been a rash of cheating lately. I would like for that to stop.” And then it returned to Arturo, “When can you start?”

"Right away," Arturo replied. He did his best to sound sure of himself. Despite being fairly cocksure, this was not an easy feat. Udinov was an intimidating man. He had a hard edge to his manner. Arturo was not altogether unfamiliar with men like Nikolai Udinov, but nor was he really of Udinov's world. His connection to the Lastra family was distant, but Zenobia Lastra had been trying to strengthen that connection. Already, Arturo discovered before he left Osiris, his father, Magister Leonardo Rosso, had begun taking on Zenobia's soldiers and lieutenants as students. Zenobia paid Leonardo well for this work. Arturo supposed took some of the sting out of the fact that when Zenobia offered to pay the Rossos to train her people, it was an offer the Rossos could not refuse. Brokering the deal that arranged for Arturo's banishment in lieu of worse punishment by the Osiran elite had a price: Zenobia had, for all intents and purposes, rented Arturo's services to Nikolai Udinov and his Bratva operations here on Greenleaf Skyplex. This was a bed of Arturo's own making. Failure here would reflect badly on the Lastra Family in general and on Zenobia personally, which would mean nothing good for the Rosso family. Failure, it seemed, was not an option, and so Arturo could not, would not fail.

Nik tucked his hands into the pockets of his slacks, something that was most definitely not a power move but considering his stature and position, and the fact that they were standing in his casino, it didn't matter. He gave the younger man another quick assessing gaze, he'd have to do it seemed. Nodding, Nik wondered if Arturo was eager or ready to actually have a job. "Good." he gestured with his head towards the woman from security, "Nina will handle getting you started, but, Mr. Rosso, I expect results. Feel free to wander the floor with keen eyes."

"Of course, Mister Udinov," Arturo said with a respectful nod of his head. "I will not let you down." Arturo also wondered whether he was as ready as he was eager. He was young and eager to prove himself and determined to learn how to not only survive, but actually thrive in what had become his new normal. In truth, Arturo had the potential to be far more clever, capable, and competent than others, and even he himself gave him credit for. Arturo followed Nina out of Udinov's office. He'd find somewhere secure to stow his hat, and probably the cane. While the cane was useful on the promenade, using it in a crowded casino might not be the best of ideas. And if he needed a short impact weapon for jabs or to apply pressure to a pressure point, he could leave the blade of his cuteddu ammanicatu folded away and use that. It was certainly long enough...

Nik watched as Nina led the young Arturo off. He seemed eager enough, and had come quite highly recommended. His only hope, or maybe it wasn't really a hope, but more of a passing thought, was that Mr. Rosso would prove himself useful.