jackxdent

[jackxdent]

Jack frowned slightly at the snap, he'd always been raised to be blunt around other men. Short, sweet and to the point is how he liked it. 

He shrugged at the second question. "There's no need to defend yourself here, I didn't mean to insult you, I was simply telling you the truth." He held his hands up in resignation.

"And, if I may say, if he teases you, I think you should actually sit him down and ask what he thinks 'bout you. He's probably crushin' on you and you don't even know it." He chuckled, shrugging and returning his hands to his glass.

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

Jerry felt his heart sink. The first person he ever confessed to, not even a friend, someone as trusting as Clarence, and this man hurt him. Intentional or not, his words stung like a handful of needles.

"I can s-see the eloquence th-that made you worthy o-of your job," the shopkeeper snarked, finishing his drink and sliding it away. What did he expect from this man? "I d-don’t know what he likes. He…h-he teases…s-says things…I…" He sighed, shaking his head. "Y-You don’t h-have a wife either…wh-what can b-be said about you?" His greatest defense was his offense.

[jackxdent]

Jack nodded sheepishly, holding out his glass for the other to refill. "Im guessing you got yourself into a load of trouble, then, the way you talk?" He asked, taking the glass when it'd been filled and sipping it. 

"Never really been in any big scandals, though I've read about enough of them." He shrugged, taking another drink from his glass.

Better Than Drinking Alone

A faint smile curved Jay’s lips. “Would that everyone knew what you do, Mr. Dent,” he said quietly. “My life during the past two years would have been much simpler if that was the case. Unfortunately, people are drawn to a good scandal like moths to a flame.” As things stood, the flame was the scandal surrounding Myrtle Wilson’s death; but once upon a time, the flame had been the glittering parties he threw in his palatial home in Long Island. The same people that had once entered his home and drank his champagne were now the ones whispering about him and calling him a murderer. Oh, the cruel, delicious irony.

He chuckled softly. “I suppose it does. Still, it’s never a crime to indulge one’s curiosity.” He finished off his whiskey and poured himself another. “Some call it a vice, but I think that once in a while a stiff drink is exactly what a person needs to settle their thoughts. Is that why you’re in here tonight?” Jay held up the bottle in invitation, smiling at the other man. “Care for another, Mr. Dent?”

[jackxdent]

His eyebrows rose and he looked at the other surprised. Huh, he didn’t take the other for a fag.

"Well… I see the dilemma there." He chuckled, taking another drink of his whiskey. "Didn’t see you as a fag, honestly." He shrugged, using the word carelessly. "He’s straight, then. This guy you like?" He asked, taking the last drink from his glass.

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

The song Baby Won’t You Come Home was played over the piano, which made Jerry relax just enough to chuckle as he was playfully roughhoused. This wasn’t so bad, playing nice with someone who had threatened him. It was water under the bridge at this point. A least that was what he was trying to make it.

The only problem was that Mr. Jack Dent wasn’t going to let up on this subject. 

"Sh-she’s um…a…he." His eyes shut tightly, flinching a little as he expected a disgusted retaliation. "I…I fancy a man…a-a doctor." 

[jackxdent]

He nodded, taking another sip of his drink. “Well, I of all people should know the value of privacy, and to keep my nose where it belongs.” Then again, he was paid to get into other’s business, but that was beside the point.

"But I guess that kinda defeats the reason why I came over here, huh?" He smiled goofily, finishing off his drink and slamming it down on the table. 

"Ah. I don’t usually do this, ya know," He pointed to the empty cup, pausing. "Drinking. Quite like it though, feels nice." He smiled again, like a little kid grinning at a camera on Christmas.

Better Than Drinking Alone

More of the same it was. Oh, well. It had been nice to hope for a few seconds. “I don’t know about a conspiracy, but I was involved in a scandal that seems to have been plastered in every paper in the country.” Normally he hated touching this subject, even vaguely, but for some reason he didn’t mind talking about it with this man. Which was strange considering the fact that not ten minutes ago he’d been stewing in bitterness and regret.

He waved Jack’s apology away. “No need, Mr. Dent. No need. You’re far more polite about it than some, believe me.” He chuckled dryly as he took a sip of his whiskey. “Besides, once the press gets their hands on it, it becomes everybody’s business. Or so I’ve learned.” And boy, had he learned a lot. Infamy at its finest.

[jackxdent]

"I said se- Hey, stop trying to mess with me, ya ass." He laughed, moving to punch the other lightly on the arm as he chuckled. 

Though he quirked a brow at how he stuttered over his words. "What? She a prostitute? Cross-dresser?" He wasn't unaware of the strange kinks people of the city had. With his job, it was almost impossible to be that innocent.

"S'not like I'm 'society', just spit it out." He shrugged, taking another drink.

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

"Did y-you not just purchase it?" Smart-ass, he was being a proper sass and he knew it, but the fact that he would even attempt to snark an officer of the law meant something, it meant he was becoming comfortable around him. 

The blush against his cheeks burned brightly. “N-No…I-I um…I-I mean sh-she…” Oh gracious… Could he tell him? No, heaven’s no! 

"sHe’s um…s-society would’t underst-stand." 

[jackxdent]

"There are actually no laws against drinking it. Just selling, production, importation and transportation. I haven't broken any laws, my friend."

He smiled as the listened to the other describe his love. "You sound head over heels. She married or somethin'?" He asked, taking another sip of his whiskey.

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

"For a m-man of the law to have alcohol…I dunno wh-what I’ve gotten m-myself into with you. W-Wouldn’t you get in trouble f-for even drinking that?" This called into question Jack Dent’s integrity. Sure, he agreed that the prohibition was silly at best, but that didn’t change the fact that law was the law. How did he expect to take down the mafia, with dirty illegal tactics? 

"F-Fascinating…funny." Deep breath, hold, exhale. Jerry shook his head. "S-Someone nice…some nights…b-but um…no. Nothing um, n-nothing set in stone. It’s…well…th-the person I want is…not available for courting." 

[jackxdent]

"Jerry, you don't have to try so hard to be friendly." The male chuckled, ordering himself a whiskey on the rocks. "No wife, sadly still on the market. Don't think my job gives me enough time to... socialize." 

If anyone were to ask Jack if he was a virgin, he would immediately deny and say he'd been with many women. But the truth was, he hadn't come across a single female that made him want to settle down and have kids.

Besides, his job paid the bills. Sure, some nights were lonely and a woman to keep him warm would be nice, but something in him just wouldn't allow it. 

"What about you?" He asked, leaning forward. "Any love interests in the fascinating story that is your life?" He smiled, thanking the man who brought him his drink and took a sip of the honey colored liquid.

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

“Th-That’s just it,” he said, taking a sip of his drink. “It’s th-these laws that have made Capone so…powerful. It’s one thing, n-not to be allowed…i-it’s another…when…when people get killed over s-something so simple.” Sitting his drink down, Jerry looked back to the FBI agent.

“S-So…um…d-do you h-have children? A-A wife of your own?” He was trying, sincerely he was. If he had to work for this man, he wanted to know the quality behind him.

[jackxdent]

Jack couldnt help the guilty smile that tugged at the corner of his lips, looking up to the man that brought Jerry's drink with a small smirk. Scratching the back of his neck once the tender left,his smile returned as he said. "Yeah, well, it wasn't really relevant to the mafia." 

"She's alright, gettin' married soon." He eyed the drink, also noticing that whenever the man started getting comfortable, he'd straighten again. "I'm not gonna bust ya for slouchin' or drinkin', I did bring you to this juice joint anyway." He shrugged, he really didn't care for the prohibition laws; he himself didn't agree on them.

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

Jerry kept his eyes to the table when his drink was brought. He had been here once or twice before and it was mundane to order virgin drinks when speakeasies were everywhere. Still, this was an FBI agent and so appearances had to be kept.

“You…c-could have j-just told me that. I would h-have listened to you.” He was trying, he was showing him that with honesty came rewards. Still, this man had grabbed him and threatened and it was just something he had to remind himself every time he started to relax around him. His shoulders would sag and then straighten, his body returning to a tense state. It was so hard to trust.

“H-How is she…now?” He took a sip of his drink and looked to him with earnest care.

[jackxdent]

[jackxdent]

Jack nodded, though something told him Jerry would find a way to make him regret his promise.

He caught the forced smile, the man was trying to make things comfortable between them, Jack couldn't help but smile at that. "No, well, she wasn't ever hurt by anyone in the gang, but she was teamed up on and... taken advantage of when I was about 17. Inspired me to join come kinda police force. Now look where I am." He smiled, trying to get the atmosphere to switch from uncomfortable to casual.

"Her names Emily. Shes 2 years younger than me."  

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

Despite all of his threats, this man was showing concern, which really meant the world to the shopkeeper. Justice…like…revenge for his father. He could think of it like that. But it wasn’t the gang members that killed him, it was the rivals from the other town. He died like a mobster. Still, he could point blame at Al Capone if he wanted. He just had to get close. Maybe…but it was such a burden.

“N-No lies…p-please keep it that way.” If he could take one shred of control somewhere…anywhere, it had to be this. Please keep your word, it was the mantra in his head.

“That whole s-spill about a sister…d-did you make that up on the spot?” Jerry forced a smile, but it was a partial lie.

[jackxdent]

"Jack Dent." He smiled a little crookedly as he pulled away from the handshake to take another drink. "You been in some big conspiracy or something? Something to make the papers?" He asked, frowning at his drink, only then realizing how nosy he sounded.

"I’m sorry, ya don’t have to answer that. It isn’t any of my business anyhow." He shook his head, setting his drink down. This wasn’t going as well as he’d planned when he was at his table. Did he even have a plan for this? He couldn’t tell anymore.

Better Than Drinking Alone

Jay had barely gotten time to start marinating in his thoughts and his whiskey when an unfamiliar man joined him at his table. Well, unfamiliar and slightly drunk if the drink in his hand was any indication. He struggled to keep from groaning aloud. Oh yes, tonight was definitely going to be one of those nights. Might as well take it with a grain of salt. “I don’t believe so,” he said, giving the man a pleasant, albeit forced, smile. “I never forget a face, and I don’t remember ever seeing yours.”

He had a vague suspicion about why the man had recognized him, but he preferred to give him the benefit of the doubt. Either he’d be pleasantly surprised or he’d be met with more of the same. He extended a hand. “Jay Gatsby.”

[jackxdent]

[jackxdent]

Jack frowned softly at the others pleas and he covered the other males hand with his own, shaking his head as he said. "Hey, hey, you're not going to.." 

Jerry whimpered another plea and he sighed softly, looking to the table and nodding as he let his arms rest at his sides. "This is for getting justice." He looked up, blue-green eyes serious. "I wont pull anything over on you, there will be no lies between us, and I will do my best to protect you." 

He wished he could comfort the other more, make him believe he was actually safe. But the fact of the matter was, neither one of them was more safe than the other. Jerry clearly knew that. Jack wanted to be truthful to this man, he owed him that much for doing this. 

"And thank you.. for this."

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

He didn’t want to believe that this was real. He just knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was going to die because of this man. He promised him that it wouldn’t happen, but that tingle down his spine was more real than his words.

There was just one thing he needed to take this quietly, to finally submit to this man and turn his life over, to ruin his reputation worse than it already was.

“Please…l-look me in the eyes and tell me th-this is f-for a greater cause. I-I don’t w-want to die f-for you to g-get a pr-promotion. I-If I die d-doing this…please…d-don’t let…I-I don’t want to be like…” I don’t want people to see me like my father, to think that we really were scum goons for filthy people like mafia.

“Please…” He didn’t know how pitiful he could appear, but he was giving his best pleading look he could muster. The Moretti name was so tarnished, he didn’t want to make it worse, but by doing this he knew he was, he had signed away his existence. “I’ll…I’ll do it…”

[jackxdent]

Jack was usually on his game with watching his back, and it was usually him avoiding public places that made his job easy, and probably was the only thing that saved his hide. But he figured that tonight he'd test his luck, it'd been a rough week and he just wanted a stiff drink before he stumbled home and passed out. 

He was on his third bourbon on the rocks when a familiar face walked into the pub. He wasn't too familiar; if the person was important, Jack would've never forgotten him. No, it had to be someone he saw in the media... he'd be able to put his finger on it, if it weren't for the drink that made his brain a little fuzzy and made him feel a little light headed.

Getting up from his own table without really thinking it through, he gave an innocent grin as he sat down at the familiar mans table that was two over from his own. Taking his drink with him and taking another sip. "Do I know you?" He asked once he sat down, narrowing his eyes slightly at the man, as if that would help identify who the stranger was.  

Better Than Drinking Alone

The problem with infamy was that it tended to follow you around. It didn’t matter what you did or where you went or how many changes you made to your life; someone was always going to recognize you and ply you with questions you didn’t want to answer in their never-ending quest for gossip.

Unfortunately for Jay, he’d been forced to learn that the hard way. And worse? He’d done it to himself.

After the events of that fateful summer on Long Island the last thing he wanted was to be in the public eye. Or even in public, for that matter. He’d thought all the stares and whispered comments behind hands would disappear once he moved to Chicago, but a few hours downtown his first week there had proven him wrong. The press’ reach, especially when it came to scandals, was a force to be reckoned with. Eventually he’d just stopped paying the gossips any mind. Sure they still talked and stared, he’d simply stopped caring. He thought perhaps that constantly being reminded of one past was his punishment for foolishly thinking he could repeat another. If that was the case, he’d gotten off easy.

These were the thoughts that accompanied Jay as he walked into his favorite bar. The owner knew him by name and by habits, so it was no surprise when a bottle of his favored whiskey was brought to his table moments after he sat down. He poured himself a healthy measure and leaned back in his seat. It was just going to be one of those nights.

[jackxdent]

The agents eyes softened and he sighed as he let the others wrist slip from his grasp, running a hand through his hair as he closed his eyes ad sat back. “You’ll have my protection, and payment, but I will keep my distance, only so to make sure no one realizes I am watching you. You don’t need to worry about any of that. There isn’t much else I can offer you that I’m sure you haven’t heard from the mafia. ‘Cept that you’ll get my undying love as a best friend.” He smiled, even fluttering his eyelashes up at the other.

"You’ll be fine, anyone that even looks at you the wrong way will have me to deal before you even notice them."

He bit his lip, looking at the other seriously. “I’ll need you to contact whoever’s number they gave you to call and tell them you want in, then you call me and tell me where they told you to meet with someone if they did, and any other info they gave you over the phone. Kapish?” He asked, his hazel eyes giving him that no-funny business look.

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

Jerry froze, his eyes widening the more this man, Jack, spoke. His threats were not the same as the mafia’s. The mafia would break his nose, it would heal. They offered to make his life easier, it was adequate enough without their interference. He would be beaten, he would be threatened, but they never carried out their demands. After a while Jerry assumed it was because they wanted him to accept their offer freely, which he never would.

This man was different, this man wasn’t going to kill him, no…he was going to take his life away, what little of it he had. He was going to make his world a miserable place.

The hand on his wrist kept him in place, and eventually the shopkeeper took his seat again. His eyes didn’t hide his fear. There was no trust for this man, no trust but the faith that the FBI agent would keep his word. He didn’t want to do this, and in his final plea, smoke in his eyes in the form of blurred tears, Jerry whispered, “P-Please…d-don’t make me…I’ll…I-I’ll die, I know it. I just kn-know it.”

[jackxdent]

Jack growled, his patience snapping and he grabbed Jerry's wrist in a firm grip underneath the table as he stood. "The names Jack, and if you don't do as I ask, I swear on god himself I will not stop until you help me. I know where you live, and I know where you work. So if you think the damn mafia was a problem you will be begging to have your old life back, because I will not hesitate to make your life a living hell from this moment on if you walk out that door." 

All friendliness was gone from his features, instead a cold gaze met Jerrys gray eyes as he spoke in that lowered and calm tone that was somehow more frightening than when you were yelling. His hazel eyes showed a man that was determined and the kind to keep to his word.

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

“Oh…d-don’t you dare.” He couldn’t tell what a lie was and what was real, and more than anything he wanted to see this man’s badge.

“Wh-What woman is ta-taught to be that way…Wh-why would she t-talk to anyone s-so low i-in the first place? I d-don’t know wh-what y-you’re making up…” At last the shopkeeper stood and tossed down money for his drink that he had yet to receive. He didn’t want to be in this man’s presence. He was in denial. He didn’t want to believe anything, he didn’t want to get sucked into the wrong crowd, and he didn’t want to die like his father.

“Y-You either sh-show me your badge or I’m turning around,” he whispered only for this man’s ears. “I d-don’t even kn-know your name.”

[jackxdent]

Jack frowned softly, sitting back and biting his inner lip, hazel eyes glancing to the black table top as he nodded slowly. "You've got a point." Damn, this man had been poked at far too many times. 

"Though, it could stop people from getting hurt. My sister was one of them, ya know. She was uh... teamed up on by some of the guys. Dunno what happened, she thinks she might've talked back to one of them by accident. She was raised to be live wire like that," He smiled softly at the table before looking up. 

"Barely escaped with her life, still they didnt leave her alone. They said she wouldn't be so lucky next time. So, you see why I'm doing all this."

So maybe pulling the family card was a little below the belt, but he really needed this. He leaned forward slightly. 

"How many other women do you think they've harassed? Family's they've scared into watching over their shoulders?" Sure, he knew the mob was more about the drugs and speakeasies, but Jerry didn't need to know that. 

Scrawled Notes & Hissed Pleas || 1923 || Jack + Jerry

Jerry didn’t feel the need to respond. This man seemed pre-packaged, his ammo were the questions he already hand the answers to. These type of people were the worst, they borrowed time with ostentatious phrases and airs. What made him so different than the mafia, other than the badge? They were all bullies. It was because of people like him that his father was six feet under. They were the reason that everyone in town looked at him with a scowl, believing that his father died as a gangster, a low-class scrumbag. His reputation was lost to him, and in turn his son was marked with the same shame. There was nothing that could repair the damage done to the Morettis. It didn’t matter that Jerry knew the truth – having been told by his mother a year later, just before her death…it was a nightmare, having spent so much time resenting someone who was innocent – nothing he could say could change anything.

“I-I’m not your pawn…not th-that I even believe you. M-My father is dead b-because of people like you. Wh-Why would I give you m-my own life…why?” This felt like a negotiation, but really it was complete accusatory anger from the usually placid shopkeeper. No authority dared speak to him after his father’s death, and now this man appeared seemingly from nowhere with such pretentious sense of righteousness.