[He'd automatically reached out to keep Firo from doing anything and luckily enough Zaslavsky hardly thinks either of them worth notice to comment on that. Not that Firo would understand, the old man hardly speaks a bit of English. Instead Ivan gestures for Firo to follow him and steps quickly through the house, door closing behind them.]
You are lucky he does not speak english, I think. [More soft laughter and a clink as Ivan sets down his package and examines the door he's going to fix. It's actually a pretty easy fix and he hums a bit under his breath as he goes about doing it.] Have you been down here before?
[No, Ivan most certainly doesn't even nurse the idea of being anyone's mom, that's plain ridiculous! But he does know enough to stop a fight he'd have to translate from happening.]
He is old, I hardly think it would mattering.
[And here Ivan notices how carefully Firo treats this. It's almost like a kid watching their Dad fix up a broken car engine and isn't that a funny thought. So here he'll ask for a screwdriver, hardly knowing the words to differentiate between them in English and resorting to wild gestures with his hands and a slipping Russian-English mixture.]
Didn't think so, you're not one of us. [It's calmly stated and true, because there's definitely nothing that would show Firo having to live among the Russians and the Slavic people here.]
Not too late if there's a year or two left in him.
[Yeah, nobody ever taught this kid that you're supposed to respect all your elders, not just the ones to whom you swore eternal loyalty.
It takes a bit of trial and error-- made more difficult by the fact that Firo's never really worked with tools-- but he eventually finds the screwdriver and hands it over. He peers at the rest of the toolbox's contents curiously, idly wondering what they do. He's not going to even try and put in the mental effort to figure it out by himself, however slight that may be. Maybe he'll ask Mr. Master Fixer later.
He glances up at Ivan, chuckling a bit at his comment. It doesn't really bother him how divided the city's immigrant groups are; that's just how it's always been.]
"Not one a' you," yeah. It's pretty funny how different things are over here.
[And yet how similar they are. There's trash and beggars and desperation just like any other corner of the city.]
[Ivan snorts, brushing hair back out of his eyes as he works on fixing up the door.]
You can try but he doesn't speak English, might not be as easy as you are thinking.
[Here he tosses a bit of an impish smile Firo's way and catches the way Firo's looking over the scant amount of tools Ivan owns. Faintly he wonders if he'd never seen more than basics given the confused way he skims over the different tools. Ah, well, that's not his problem is it? So Ivan turns back to the door, fixes the hinge and smiles when it settles back into place.]
Eh? Is it? [There's a pause, because Ivan doesn't often head into the other immigrant groups turf, not really the best place for a relatively new, obviously Russian guy to wander into. So he blinks at Firo, head tilted ever so slightly.]
I've found beatin' some sense into people is a pretty universal language.
[The sulk is short-lived, however. He'd rather talk, get to know this guy better.]
Yeah, a bit. 'Least where I grew up, an old guy like your sourpuss friend wouldn't let somebody get between him and a potential fight. People over here seem a bit friendlier. Then there's the language and everything...
[ Though it's worth noting that Firo's view has been a bit warped by his tendency to stray towards the roughest corners, especially in his childhood.]
[There's a momentary pause as he tries to make sure the door works perfectly before he tucks his tools into place and picks up the bundle.]
---Friendlier? [A blink, and he tips his head as Ivan thinks this over.] Not necessarily, it's just easier to side step when you know where the trouble dwells.
[There's also the fact that though he's got a relatively calm exterior, Ivan still looks intimidating and can ward people off without really trying. But hey, use what you got, right?]
[He folds his arms and raises an eyebrow as he watches Ivan test the door. Was that an insult?]
Whaddaya mean by that?
[Firo's situation is the opposite; he looks so puny that even kids have tried to take him on, and his temper just makes most fights worse.]
Yeah? Who makes the trouble around here?
[As far as he knows, this place doesn't fall inside any Family's jurisdiction. Maybe Lansky or Buchalter has a claim, or maybe there are just smaller gangs.]
[Ivan pauses again, blinks and tosses a confused look over his shoulder.] Pardon?
[Sorry, but Ivan isn't quite sure what Firo's getting all up in arms about so he kind of just unsures and checks his bundle of tools once more before he tucks it into the crook of his arm.]
Mm, depends. I am not usually getting in their way.
[He shrugs a shoulder, not really concerned with it.]
[When he realizes that Ivan's question is genuinely curious and not coy mocking, he decides to drop it. Touchy as he is, Ivan hasn't really given him a reason to get worked up yet, and the guy might still be pretty new to city etiquette (or lack thereof).]
Never mind.
[He shrugs and rises to his feet.]
Depends? So you got more than one group workin' this place?
[Then it probably is the smaller gangs, he assumes. And he can't help but wonder if that means there's opportunity for his Family here.]
[He's just a farm boy from the Motherland, don't beat him up Firo---!! That said, Ivan waits for Firo to scramble to his feet before he nods and heads off towards where Zaslavsky had tottered off to. Time to get his meager payment and scurry out of here.]
Da, they are how you say, not big deal? [Ivan tips his head to the side, frowns a bit.] That is not right I think.
[Firo's a strong, independent delinquent, he'll beat up whomever he wants!
Firo trails behind, not sure where they're going but content to follow. His pressing business has been taken care of for now, and even beside that he's thoroughly distracted by his interest in the new guy. And if he stopped to think about it, right now he's being helpful by getting information on other territories, isn't he?]
Sounds right to me, if they're just a buncha' small gangs. They're not a big deal; they're small fries?
[...Firo, if someone's having difficulty with slang, it's not a good idea to use more slang.]
There's a low grumble from the room Ivan pokes his head in, and a rapid fire burst of Russian conversation before Ivan's ducking his head in thanks and accepting the small payment Zaslavsky gives him. It's not much, but it's something and he can use it to bring his sisters to his side once more. There's a brief pause, Ivan carefully hiding away his money and then he turns and faces Firo, thinks about his question.]
Small fries means gangs? [He still doesn't understand a lot of the slang! But he's trying]
[Who said Firo's thoughts have to conform to reality?
Firo hangs back as he watches the exchange, but he doesn't miss the small amount of money Ivan hides away. He thinks of pointing out that there's better money elsewhere, but holds his tongue in a rare moment of tact. His own mother was one of those who never resorted to crime even in poverty. While Firo thinks it's a rather foolish idea--her conventional morality never settled in with him--he won't fault someone for keeping on the straight and narrow.]
Ah, sorry. "Small fries" just means people who aren't that important. I meant small gangs. Like just a few people, or gangs that don't really have a lotta power.
[He doesn't think about it, but compared to the Five Families his Family fits the bill.]
It's not necessarily out of some notion of morality that makes Ivan stay away from crime but more so the fact that, even though he's mostly uneducated, Ivan's smart. He doesn't know the ways of this country, let alone the subtle nuances of the city he lives in and everything can be used against him. He's the only chance his sisters have to get out of Russia and into some semblance of safety and he can't risk it.
Even if there isn't a lot of money in the odd jobs he handles.]
Oh. [His brow creases as he thinks, files away that idiom for later and nods.] I see, I think.
[Here's where a good little Firo would nod, apologize for using unclear idioms, and switch off to a less shady topic. Instead, he nods, smirks a bit, and decides to press it.]
Good.
So you say you stay outta trouble, but... I'd be kinda surprised if those guys left you alone completely. You'd make a good enforcer.
[Ivan looks the part, and that's usually what's most important. That's why Firo doesn't do extortion or loan sharking; the goal is to intimidate people right away so you don't have to waste time beating them up. Better for business and all that. But, of course, Firo saw during their fight that Ivan's no wimp either. He'd be perfect.]
[It hardly matters, Ivan is used to a different culture, and his grandfather had always been blunt and not one to sugar coat things or apologize for other people's failings. Instead, Ivan tilts his head to the side, brow furrowed.]
Enforcer? Like with law?
[That...doesn't fit what Firo was just talking about, so maybe he's wrong and he could have translated that word wrong, he's not really the best with english after all. Still, curiosity and all that, he doesn't ask to change the topic or do so himself, he stays and looks for his answers.]
...A law, I guess. But not the good old boys in blue, if that's what you're askin'.
[The contempt in his voice should tell Ivan clearly enough that Firo doesn't think they're "good" at all.]
They probably haven't bothered you, but you might've seen big, intimidating guys goin' around your neighborhood, stoppin' by all the shops and stuff, yeah?
[He doesn't clarify what they're doing when making said rounds--gathering their payment--because he assumes it's obvious.]
[He clucks his tongue, thoughtful as he processes the words and fits it in with the world he knows and what he's seen here. It does sound familiar, and while Ivan hasn't had any experience with these men he knows their type. His brow furrows, because he's not entirely sure what all these men do -- but surely they're gathering some sort of payment or promise?]
I see. [He does -- kind of.] And you think I am capable of such job?
[He's really not one to turn down a job, money is money is less that he must save and send to his sisters over seas.]
[It sounds like a scoff, and it is. Firo's used to people not taking him seriously, but you'd think a guy like this wouldn't need to be convinced of his potential as an intimidator.
He doesn't even pause to allow an answer--hey, his opinion is important.]
Yeah, I do. Even if it was just luck that let you beat those guys up--which I doubt--you've got looks goin' for you. And that's what they want--bigger guys means more scared people means it's easier to collect.
[He hmms, low in the back of his throat, brows lifted at the easy assurance. Ivan has not been in the country long, certainly not long enough to make more of an impact beyond his capabilities as handyman within his own people. Still, a job is a job, and Firo is thankful enough to follow him and help him out -- it would be foolish to turn down such a thing, right?]
And who would I do such work for? [His head tilts, curious.] You?
[He's honestly pretty curious about it. It doesn't do to throw oneself into situations you do not fully understand in a country you are new to that speaks a language you are not fluent in. But one familiar person makes a difference.]
[ His head tilts like a bird's, curious and thinking over Firo's words. Ivan has a sweet face, still somewhat rounded despite the not so great conditions of his tenement home. He barely knows Firo, and he doesn't know his bosses at all or what working in a casino is like, really.
But things are bad back home. His sisters do not tell him much, but Ivan knows them well enough to read between the lines. Besides, he misses them and worries over them terribly. So there's a slow nod, a thoughtful cast to his features. ]
[Firo smiles. He's never thought of himself as a salesman, but this pitch seems to be going pretty well.]
Couldn't hurt at all.
[He turns down a small side-street--scarcely more than an alley--and motions for Ivan to follow. He knows most of the shortcuts in this city; though they're hardly safe, they're certainly fast.]
After you eat, there's probably someone at Alveare you could talk to.
[Don't worry, he hasn't forgotten that "free" meal.]
[ Firo probably isn't the best salesmen out there, but he's honest enough that Ivan finds himself relaxing around the other man. Plus, they've already bonded over fighting right?
In any case, Ivan follows easily, trusting Firo enough to guide them to Alveare without trouble. And honestly, he probably wouldn't have been able to get to Alveare on his own without a lot of hardship and confusing instructions. Still, it's bewildering to go through all these shortcuts when he hardly knows his way around the city. Besides, Ivan typically stays around the Russian side of town anyway. ]
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You are lucky he does not speak english, I think. [More soft laughter and a clink as Ivan sets down his package and examines the door he's going to fix. It's actually a pretty easy fix and he hums a bit under his breath as he goes about doing it.] Have you been down here before?
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No harm in makin' somebody more self aware.
[He watches as Ivan gets ready to work and situates himself so that he's out of the way but still close enough to lend a hand if needed.]
Probably once or twice when I was a kid. Not recently, though. I don't really got any business over here anymore.
[Not that he really had business as a kid outside of robbing people.]
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He is old, I hardly think it would mattering.
[And here Ivan notices how carefully Firo treats this. It's almost like a kid watching their Dad fix up a broken car engine and isn't that a funny thought. So here he'll ask for a screwdriver, hardly knowing the words to differentiate between them in English and resorting to wild gestures with his hands and a slipping Russian-English mixture.]
Didn't think so, you're not one of us. [It's calmly stated and true, because there's definitely nothing that would show Firo having to live among the Russians and the Slavic people here.]
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[Yeah, nobody ever taught this kid that you're supposed to respect all your elders, not just the ones to whom you swore eternal loyalty.
It takes a bit of trial and error-- made more difficult by the fact that Firo's never really worked with tools-- but he eventually finds the screwdriver and hands it over. He peers at the rest of the toolbox's contents curiously, idly wondering what they do. He's not going to even try and put in the mental effort to figure it out by himself, however slight that may be. Maybe he'll ask Mr. Master Fixer later.
He glances up at Ivan, chuckling a bit at his comment. It doesn't really bother him how divided the city's immigrant groups are; that's just how it's always been.]
"Not one a' you," yeah. It's pretty funny how different things are over here.
[And yet how similar they are. There's trash and beggars and desperation just like any other corner of the city.]
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You can try but he doesn't speak English, might not be as easy as you are thinking.
[Here he tosses a bit of an impish smile Firo's way and catches the way Firo's looking over the scant amount of tools Ivan owns. Faintly he wonders if he'd never seen more than basics given the confused way he skims over the different tools. Ah, well, that's not his problem is it? So Ivan turns back to the door, fixes the hinge and smiles when it settles back into place.]
Eh? Is it? [There's a pause, because Ivan doesn't often head into the other immigrant groups turf, not really the best place for a relatively new, obviously Russian guy to wander into. So he blinks at Firo, head tilted ever so slightly.]
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I've found beatin' some sense into people is a pretty universal language.
[The sulk is short-lived, however. He'd rather talk, get to know this guy better.]
Yeah, a bit. 'Least where I grew up, an old guy like your sourpuss friend wouldn't let somebody get between him and a potential fight. People over here seem a bit friendlier. Then there's the language and everything...
[ Though it's worth noting that Firo's view has been a bit warped by his tendency to stray towards the roughest corners, especially in his childhood.]
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[There's a momentary pause as he tries to make sure the door works perfectly before he tucks his tools into place and picks up the bundle.]
---Friendlier? [A blink, and he tips his head as Ivan thinks this over.] Not necessarily, it's just easier to side step when you know where the trouble dwells.
[There's also the fact that though he's got a relatively calm exterior, Ivan still looks intimidating and can ward people off without really trying. But hey, use what you got, right?]
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Whaddaya mean by that?
[Firo's situation is the opposite; he looks so puny that even kids have tried to take him on, and his temper just makes most fights worse.]
Yeah? Who makes the trouble around here?
[As far as he knows, this place doesn't fall inside any Family's jurisdiction. Maybe Lansky or Buchalter has a claim, or maybe there are just smaller gangs.]
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[Sorry, but Ivan isn't quite sure what Firo's getting all up in arms about so he kind of just unsures and checks his bundle of tools once more before he tucks it into the crook of his arm.]
Mm, depends. I am not usually getting in their way.
[He shrugs a shoulder, not really concerned with it.]
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Never mind.
[He shrugs and rises to his feet.]
Depends? So you got more than one group workin' this place?
[Then it probably is the smaller gangs, he assumes. And he can't help but wonder if that means there's opportunity for his Family here.]
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Da, they are how you say, not big deal? [Ivan tips his head to the side, frowns a bit.] That is not right I think.
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Firo's a strong, independent delinquent, he'll beat up whomever he wants!Firo trails behind, not sure where they're going but content to follow. His pressing business has been taken care of for now, and even beside that he's thoroughly distracted by his interest in the new guy. And if he stopped to think about it, right now he's being helpful by getting information on other territories, isn't he?]
Sounds right to me, if they're just a buncha' small gangs. They're not a big deal; they're small fries?
[...Firo, if someone's having difficulty with slang, it's not a good idea to use more slang.]
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Yeah that's what he thinks!!!There's a low grumble from the room Ivan pokes his head in, and a rapid fire burst of Russian conversation before Ivan's ducking his head in thanks and accepting the small payment Zaslavsky gives him. It's not much, but it's something and he can use it to bring his sisters to his side once more. There's a brief pause, Ivan carefully hiding away his money and then he turns and faces Firo, thinks about his question.]
Small fries means gangs? [He still doesn't understand a lot of the slang! But he's trying]
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Who said Firo's thoughts have to conform to reality?Firo hangs back as he watches the exchange, but he doesn't miss the small amount of money Ivan hides away. He thinks of pointing out that there's better money elsewhere, but holds his tongue in a rare moment of tact. His own mother was one of those who never resorted to crime even in poverty. While Firo thinks it's a rather foolish idea--her conventional morality never settled in with him--he won't fault someone for keeping on the straight and narrow.]
Ah, sorry. "Small fries" just means people who aren't that important. I meant small gangs. Like just a few people, or gangs that don't really have a lotta power.
[He doesn't think about it, but compared to the Five Families his Family fits the bill.]
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Well certainly not me!It's not necessarily out of some notion of morality that makes Ivan stay away from crime but more so the fact that, even though he's mostly uneducated, Ivan's smart. He doesn't know the ways of this country, let alone the subtle nuances of the city he lives in and everything can be used against him. He's the only chance his sisters have to get out of Russia and into some semblance of safety and he can't risk it.
Even if there isn't a lot of money in the odd jobs he handles.]
Oh. [His brow creases as he thinks, files away that idiom for later and nods.] I see, I think.
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Good.
So you say you stay outta trouble, but... I'd be kinda surprised if those guys left you alone completely. You'd make a good enforcer.
[Ivan looks the part, and that's usually what's most important. That's why Firo doesn't do extortion or loan sharking; the goal is to intimidate people right away so you don't have to waste time beating them up. Better for business and all that. But, of course, Firo saw during their fight that Ivan's no wimp either. He'd be perfect.]
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Enforcer? Like with law?
[That...doesn't fit what Firo was just talking about, so maybe he's wrong and he could have translated that word wrong, he's not really the best with english after all. Still, curiosity and all that, he doesn't ask to change the topic or do so himself, he stays and looks for his answers.]
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[The contempt in his voice should tell Ivan clearly enough that Firo doesn't think they're "good" at all.]
They probably haven't bothered you, but you might've seen big, intimidating guys goin' around your neighborhood, stoppin' by all the shops and stuff, yeah?
[He doesn't clarify what they're doing when making said rounds--gathering their payment--because he assumes it's obvious.]
Those're enforcers.
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I see. [He does -- kind of.] And you think I am capable of such job?
[He's really not one to turn down a job, money is money is less that he must save and send to his sisters over seas.]
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[It sounds like a scoff, and it is. Firo's used to people not taking him seriously, but you'd think a guy like this wouldn't need to be convinced of his potential as an intimidator.
He doesn't even pause to allow an answer--hey, his opinion is important.]
Yeah, I do. Even if it was just luck that let you beat those guys up--which I doubt--you've got looks goin' for you. And that's what they want--bigger guys means more scared people means it's easier to collect.
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Hence why bitty Firo doesn't do collections.]no subject
And who would I do such work for? [His head tilts, curious.] You?
[He's honestly pretty curious about it. It doesn't do to throw oneself into situations you do not fully understand in a country you are new to that speaks a language you are not fluent in. But one familiar person makes a difference.]
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[He figures he can be open in the interest of winning this guy over.]
You'd work for one a' my bosses.
[Though Firo is a capo, as the newest, he's the lowest on the ladder. All the capos are his bosses.]
But, if they were willin' to spare you, you could do some security for me.
[And the guy did look pretty good with his hands... Maybe he could deal some of the games.]
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But things are bad back home. His sisters do not tell him much, but Ivan knows them well enough to read between the lines. Besides, he misses them and worries over them terribly. So there's a slow nod, a thoughtful cast to his features. ]
It could not hurt to see, da?
Firo seems so shady in this thread
Couldn't hurt at all.
[He turns down a small side-street--scarcely more than an alley--and motions for Ivan to follow. He knows most of the shortcuts in this city; though they're hardly safe, they're certainly fast.]
After you eat, there's probably someone at Alveare you could talk to.
[Don't worry, he hasn't forgotten that "free" meal.]
that's because he is. the shadiest of shady
In any case, Ivan follows easily, trusting Firo enough to guide them to Alveare without trouble. And honestly, he probably wouldn't have been able to get to Alveare on his own without a lot of hardship and confusing instructions. Still, it's bewildering to go through all these shortcuts when he hardly knows his way around the city. Besides, Ivan typically stays around the Russian side of town anyway. ]
Ah, of course.
Leading poor, sweet farm boys astray--! /headshake
poor dear never stood a chance /smh
Oh well /patpat
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Pff, that was too cute
he tries ahaha
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