one x one [vaermina & scaredofmostthings]

[vaermina]

ＡＮＴＨＯＮＹ ＢＩＡＮＣＨＩxxx
I.x28 years old II. cis malex III.xbianchi underboss


indentanthony could tell his comment about romeo getting his ribs snapped like twigs hit a nerve and really, he didn't know why. it had been her fault he got injured so in the first place. he wasn't quite sure if rosie and her cousin could have toppled the criminal empire that leonardo had created alongside other mob bosses over the past forty years but they had certainly been on the cusp of killing romeo and romeo dying could have created a catalyst that, well, not even he was sure the outcome would be. romeo's death, as sad as it was to admit, would have been his own fault for developing feelings for a woman he barely knew. that's why italian mobsters marry and date within their own communities; you can't trust outsiders and even now, anthony didn't think he much trusted rosie. even if romeo had died, and the men of the family followed, there would be another to replace them. there was always someone to replace someone in this business. he stayed in the car for a few moments when she slammed on the brakes, parked outside a now small establishment off of the highway with neon lights flashing brightly outside. he felt a mixed feelings of emotions, first of all frustration, mixed with a desire to just run away. nevertheless, he stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut before he went inside.
indentthe casino, well, casino-like place, was small and nothing much but it had slot machines and poker tables and the like so he supposed it was enough. he could see rosie had stormed off to the bar. she had left the cash of money she took from romeo's wallet with him so he wasn't sure if she had some still in her pocket or if she just planned to flirt with the bartender to get out of paying but whatever the case, it wasn't his problem to check on her. instantly, he found himself wandering off to the casino. like how romeo had a guilty pleasure in alcohol that could be described as somewhat addictive, it was the same for anthony with gambling. that's why he didn't really take on gambling tasks in the business. but he supposed a few hours wouldn't hurt anyone. he found himself going to a blackjack game, to play one on one. as he took a seat and a server brought him a drink to top it off, the dealer glanced at him. "rough day already?" he asked lightly. anthony snorted, "something like that." he mumbled, watching the dealer shuffle the cards out. he ended up finding himself staying at the blackjack table, continually supplied drinks by servers while his brain kept him planted at the table, eager to win several times and reach a certain amount of reward money and not willing to leave until he did, even as he began to spend a majority of his money on the game.

[Scaredofmostthings]

Rosie leaned against the bar counter, glaring at the wood between the water drops forming in her eyes. "Rosemary? What're you doing here?" She glanced up as a familiar voice, warm and soft, spoke to her.

"Hey Eddie. Been awhile, brought one of the in-laws out for a day trip," She nodded at Anthony as he walked by, not noticing her on his way to the casino, "make sure he gets my discount." Eddie, an older gentleman with Snow White hair and a smile far to kind to be someone Roise knew, was already pouring her a tall glass of something that smelled strong. "No problem kiddo, so, where ya been this whole time?" He asked as he slid the glass over to her, refilling it as quickly as she emptied it. "Slow down, this stuff could knock out a horse." Rosie laughed, glad to be in friendly company again. As far she could see, Anthony was having the time of his life in the casino, so Rosie saw no issue with sitting with Eddie and catching him up on the past few years since she had seen him.

[vaermina]

ＡＮＴＨＯＮＹ ＢＩＡＮＣＨＩxxx
I.x28 years old II. cis malex III.xbianchi underboss


indentanthony looked over his shoulder, noting how rosie appeared to be talking to an older gentlemen over by the bar counter. she didn't look bothered, looking quite happy to be talking to him, so he supposed there was no reason to go over and investigate. as much as rosie got on his nerves, he wasn't just going to sit here and let someone harass her, even though he was sure she could hold up her own just fine. his attention turned back to the blackjack game, several other gentlemen having joined him as the minutes went on. there was always some sort of sweet sense of victory whenever he won a round and ended up collecting his due money but just as much bitterness when he lost and all his bet was taken from him. it didn't take him long at all to drain his cash supply, causing him to have to shift through his own wallet. he knew if he drained all of his money out lana would end up strangling him but he never really thought about it until after the fact. as he did so, he heard the other men at the table talking. "-it's so crazy how those people run these type of places," one of them was saying, causing anthony's attention to turn to him. "you know, my sister lives in vegas. said she went to a casino with her husband one evening and she swore she saw meyer lanksy there, playin' poker like it was nothin'! she claims to have saw bugsy siegel, too, before he died years ago. claimed he was the most handsome and charismatic gangster she ever met." why was anthony always finding himself among groups talking of the mob? nevertheless, he found himself curious, so he listened in. he's heard of bugsy siegel. he died years ago but was considered one of the most feared gangsters in the west, along with being one of the first 'celebrity criminals'. one of the men shook his head. "let me tell you, they soft over there in vegas," he spoke with a strange accent, obviously not from around here. "have you heard of all these mobsters killin' each other over here? it's a bloodbath! all the news does is carry on about it." the other man scowled at his friend. "that ain't true. them west mobsters be makin' mass graves in the desert. hell, they'll make you dig your grave before killing you." finding himself interested in their conversation, anthony kept to himself but listened in, downing another drink.

[Scaredofmostthings]

"Well Rosie," Eddie exclaimed after she finished her take, "seems like you've been through quite the adventure, and to think, going from hustling pool to living in a mansion. Ain't that the dream?" He laughed, Rosie joining him. She had missed Eddie, she missed a lot of people from her old life, before Romeo. Things had never been great for her, but Rosie had always and a talent in carving out little spots of happiness for herself and guarding them with her life, this place being one of them. She could've stayed here and talked to Eddie for days, would've loved nothing more, but she glanced over her shoulder to see Anthony reaching into his wallet and her mood dropped. She turned back to Eddie, swiping a beer bottle from behind the counter, "it's been wonderful to see you again Eddie, I mean it. I'll come back, maybe bring Sam when he's good to travel, but I should go check on my in-law." Eddie waved her away, going to clean the bar as Rosie walked over to the casino.

Rosie walked up behind Anthony, unsure if he knew she was coming or not, and stopped behind him. "Did you lose all the money?" She asked calmly.

[vaermina]

ＡＮＴＨＯＮＹ ＢＩＡＮＣＨＩxxx
I.x28 years old II. cis malex III.xbianchi underboss


indentas anthony scrounged through his wallet, he felt irritation build up at the gossiping men. he didn't know why but the mob was glorified by the public, average citizens finding the mafia fascinating. he wasn't sure if it was the fact they were in crime for a living or what. but it's not supposed to be some fantasy. mobsters live violent and often brief lives, abiding by secret rituals, complicated rules and tangled webs of family loyalty or the notorious omerta, the mafia code of silence. you can't trust anyone outside of your family because another crime family would gladly kill you and take over your area. it's not as bad as when leonardo was young but with some mob bosses like richie out there, you have to be careful. granted, a lot of people seem to think the mob was full of murder but it was more based on money. as much as romeo was an airhead sometimes, he's done well by slowly infiltrating the city's labor unions, paying off or threatening union leaders to get a piece of the action whenever they got a construction job. once you get your grip on a union, you can control an entire industry, almost creating a monopoly of steel, lumber, and what other supplies are out there. he knew that romeo had huge access to several union pension funds where he could take as much money as he wanted out of it as long as it didn't come across the irs's notice. and of course, no mob boss wanted to reach al capone's level and then end up being arrested by the irs for tax evasion like the notorious gangster had been. romeo wasn't very smart when it came to his feelings but as a mob boss, he was admittedly a genius when it came to the business side of things. anthony didn't doubt he'll flourish in regards to making money.
indenthe turned his head when he heard rosie speak to him. he resisted the urge to scowl. "no." he responded blankly. there was a pause. "some of it. but i won some back. until i bet it again." anthony shouldn't be left on his own to gamble, given how obsessive he was with it. it had been a nervous addiction he developed after his father's death. "this game is rigged," he finally scowled, probably having a bit too much to drink already and was coming up with scenarios.

[Scaredofmostthings]

"'Course it's rigged, it's a casino," Rosie snapped, swiping the wallet out of Anthony's hands, "if I had known you were an addict I wouldn't have brought you here. Not only have you blown through all the money I borrowed, key word being borrowed, from Romoe, but you're about to waste your own money. Aren't you trying to move states? Dot you need money for that?" She huffed, "Now I gotta win back all of Romeos money, and get you a little extra so your wife doesn't starve because you don't know how to count cards. Go to the bar and get yourself a drink, I'll be ever in a bit." She sighed, going over to one of the poker tables, pulling a few dollar bills from her pockets and putting them into the pot, ready to play until she'd earned back what Anthony lost and more.

[vaermina]

ＡＮＴＨＯＮＹ ＢＩＡＮＣＨＩxxx
I.x28 years old II. cis malex III.xbianchi underboss


indent"it's not an addiction if i win!" he snapped back, annoyed she was putting herself on a pedestal. it's not like all the money in his wallet was the only money anthony had; even if he blew everything in his wallet at a casino, he'd still have more than enough to fare off just fine. he came from a very wealthy family but he supposed rosie didn't have a sense of that, probably not used to the endless amount of cash flow. he glared at the back of her head as she walked away, getting up from his seat and taking his drink with him. instead of going to the bar like she told him to, he ended up marching outside of the place, having half a mind to hot wire the car and leave her stranded but he knew she'd find a way back and he'd be in hot water for abandoning her miles from home. not that he really cared. the only good thing out of romeo and rosie's relationship was sam and even then, he felt bad for the babe due to the parents he ended up stuck with. perhaps he was being too harsh, knowing that the two would be good parents and he was just feeling bitter but he's genuinely never hated anyone more than he's hated romeo and rosie. it was cloudy outside, humid from the heavy weather as he took a seat on one of the benches outside. there were several people out here already, smoking and having drinks and talking with one another. he leaned back in the bench and stuffed one of his hands in his pocket, wanting nothing more but to just disappear right about now. he downed the rest of his beverage before setting the cup on the bench. he looked no better than the other sleazy souls out here right about now but he didn't care.

[Scaredofmostthings]

Rosie made quick work of earning the money back, her brief period of work in this very casino helping her trick the system and get a good streak of wins. She went to the bar, hoping to see Anthony at a stool, maybe spilling his guts to Eddie, the old man had a way of getting people to do that, but he wasn't in sight. Figuring he was outside, that's where Rosie went next, and there she saw him sitting on a bench. She walked over silently, leaning against the wall next to it and lighting a cigarette.

[vaermina]

ＡＮＴＨＯＮＹ ＢＩＡＮＣＨＩxxx
I.x28 years old II. cis malex III.xbianchi underboss


indentanthony was silent as he watched the cars fly by on the highway. he felt an urge to join them, to just drive away, wherever the road would take him. he's been stuck in this city, in this state, for so long he felt the need to just fly away, fly away forever. he could see rosie approach out of the corner of his eye, the woman leaning against the wall and beginning to light a cigarette. he leaned back against the bench, feeling a breeze hit him that stunk of motor and oil from the highway. he held the silence for a while until he spoke out of the blue, "i just want to run away. get far away from here," he voiced his thoughts from earlier, his tone monotone as he stared blankly at the rushing cars. he wasn't sure why he said that but he did.

[Scaredofmostthings]

"You're not the only one," Rosie whispered, before taking another drag of her cigarette. Louder she said, "if that's what you want, go for it." She looked out onto the highway, watching the cars pass by. As with his cousin, Rosie struggled to guess how Anthony would react to anything, hopefully he would take her words for what they were, encouragement, plain and simple. As much as him leaving would lower her risk of being exposed for her past, she didn't really care. He'd kept the secret this long, why spill now? That wasn't her concern, she just wanted to show support for his wants, even if her support was probably the last thing he wanted.