#threads: nicolas rivera

[cyberneticatoms]

WHERE: The Lotus Casino WHO: Pandora Chernykh (@chaosandcrimson)

Nicolas was rubbing at his temples as he looked over various documents on his desk. Occasionally he took a glance to the side where different camera views were being rotated through. Which was partly why he wasn't surprised when he heard a familiar knocking on the door, having seen her making her way up. There wasn't much security outside his office, if he was stupid enough to die in his own casino, he deserved it. After pressing a button on his desk to open the door, he glanced up from the paper he'd been skimming. "Last I checked you weren't scheduled for today," he said, "You're going to end up burnt out if you keep giving up your days off. You know it doesn't always need to be you who covers for callouts."

[cyberneticatoms]

Most people wouldn't have noticed but Connie had known Nicolas since he little more than a runner for mafia and half his size. Could see the subtle way he relaxed once he was sure she was no longer offended. "Understood," he agreed easily, before giving her half an amused smile as he took a sip of his drink, "Though you have become a bit more difficult to get a hold of." His tone was innocent, curious if she'd humor him or not.

At the mention of the ring, his smile turned into a smirk as he gave a small shrug. "I had no intention of being subtle in this situation. Do you have any thoughts or are you going to keep me in suspense?"

Connie's gaze dropped to the glass of wine in front of her. Mildly placated, she picked it up and swirled it in the glass, having a sip and nodding slightly in approval. "Hmm, that's a nice vintage," she said, keeping her gaze locked with his as she continued. "Forgive my accusation, Nicolas. But you and I both know that I did not get to where I am by assuming that people have good intentions. However, I will admit that as an act of subterfuge, it did seem to lack your usual panache." She had another sip of wine. "I will happily take Miss Brody under my wing. All I ask is that next time, to avoid misunderstandings, give me a heads up first. I dislike being caught off guard."

Having cleared that up, her posture visibly relaxed as she leaned back in her seat and made herself comfortable. "The rather sizeable diamond ring on Miss Brody's finger," she started, a smirk on her lips as she raised one eyebrow. "Your doing, I take it?"

[cyberneticatoms]

Nicolas met her gaze over the rim of his glass, setting his empty glass down on his desk. Debating how much he actually believed the latter half of her statement, so far it seemed true. Other than asking to spend some time together, she had yet to actually ask him for anything directly. "My position involves running this casino and being your employer in more ways than one," he said. Glancing down at the board he smirked, before setting his queen sideways once he saw she had him in check.

Standing up he moved around his desk, pushing her with his foot to turn her towards him. "I enjoy our talks, you're one of the few people who never seems interested in asking anything of me." Reaching forward he brushed her hair back behind her ear, "If you don't mind keeping things discreet for the time being, care to join me for another drink somewhere more private?"

Pandora's smile widened slightly at his remark about her late husband. "Not to speak ill of the dead, but all evidence points to the fact that you are correct about that," she answered coolly before looking down at the board. Reaching for one of her pieces, she was about to pick it up when his question fully registered, her hand freezing mid-movement as she glanced up to meet his gaze. For a few seconds, she simply studied his face in silence, before calmly completing her move and leaning back in her seat. "I'm not going to insult your intelligence by denying that I'm attracted to you. But I understand your position relative to mine, and I can assure you, I don't have any expectations beyond your company. I simply enjoy spending time with you."

[cyberneticatoms]

Nicolas lips quirked up slightly at the look that crossed her face, he'd been tempted to do his own fiddling to turn it off but was willing to allow it for now. He nodded along as she spoke, he wasn't unaware of her in-laws, if for nothing else it never hurt to know what connections were available. "Not to speak ill of the dead, but he likely needed a few more lessons himself," he said as he moved his own piece. Thought it was partly to remind himself of what his connection was to her as he kept his own gaze on hers. "Is that all you want to learn from me?," he asked while taking a slow sip of his drink. The amount of time they'd started spending together had him curious where she wanted things to go.

Pandora managed to largely maintain her composure at the loud sound effect, with nothing but a quiet, amused smile breaking her otherwise impassive expression. She dropped her gaze to the board, thinking for a moment before making her next move, then picking up her drink again. "I have very limited experience with firearms," she admitted. "My late husband didn't think it was necessary for me to learn. My sister-in-law has been encouraging me to pick it up, but she's a former Navy SEAL, so that's not surprising." She looked up and held his gaze. "Besides, I would rather learn from you."

[cyberneticatoms]

Nicolas opted for moving a pawn, rolling his eyes at the dramatic boom that played when it landed. "Mysterious...right," he said dryly, the fact Mercury seemed aware of his preference for playing black wasn't lost on him. He'd been taking a small sip before setting his glass down as he looked at her again. "Now that's actually intriguing," he said, "It be unfair and completely irresponsible not to include lessons. Any experience with firearms or are we starting from zero?"

Pandora raised an eyebrow. "Oooh, mysterious sound effects, how intriguing," she replied with an amused smirk, glancing down and watching the white chess pieces appear on her side of the board. She didn't spend too long thinking about her opening move, shifting one of her pawns up and then picking up her drink, swirling it in her hand as she looked at Nicolas across the table. "If you were being serious about your offer to take me to the range, I would like to take you up on it, actually." She slowly sipped her drink while holding his gaze. "Does the invitation come with lessons?"

[cyberneticatoms]

"You're making me tempted to bring you to the range, at the very least to give myself an advantage until you become just as skilled in that regard," Nicolas said shaking his head, a rare amused smile on his face. It was an easy click that had a chess board appearing between the two of them, "Apologies in advance in there's annoying sound effects when capturing a piece, Mercury thinks he's a comedian," he grumbled. The fact his sister had a soft spot for him being one of the few reasons he kept himself from outright strangling the other man. "Ladies first," he said motioning towards the board.

Pandora did like to be helpful, and she did enjoy her job at the casino, but that was not the only reason that she volunteered to cover callouts as often as she did. She had also come to really enjoy Nicolas's company. Perhaps she should have been more scared to in the presence of the underboss, but she felt oddly relaxed around him; not because he didn't carry himself like a man who was dangerous and knew it, but because in spite of the fact that he did, he was the first person in her life to treat her with respect.

Leaning forward, she studied the game titles before offering him a soft smirk. "No, I enjoy winning," she quipped back, having another sip of her drink before setting it on the table. "Watching you lose is a bonus. But I am willing to even the playing field by choosing a game that I don't have a major advantage in. How about chess?"

[cyberneticatoms]

"I'm sure you do," Nicolas said giving her a nod in thanks before taking a sip of his drink. Almost everything he did had some reason behind it, having her bring him a drink at first had meant he could see how she was settling in. While her former husband had been little more than a name, his own decision had made her a widow which left him feeling some type of obligation towards her. Most widows went the usual routes, either settling in to their new roles, finding new partners, or leaving with a good enough severance package once it was confirmed they knew next to nothing.

Pandora however had made herself a more than useful asset, something that had piqued his interest, even if he kept that fact to himself. Chuckling he raised a brow at her, "We both know I'd be more direct if that were the case." He pressed a few buttons on his desk, the top sinking in before a board raising in the center between them, various game titles being projected. Motioning towards her as he took another sip, "So what's our game tonight then? And if you choose another card game like last time, I'm fully inclined to believe you just enjoy watching me lose."

Bringing Nicolas his drink of choice was something that Pandora had been doing for years. It had started back when she was new at the casino and working as a server. At first, she did it because he asked her to; until she learned how to anticipate when he would want one, and started bringing them to him of her own accord. It was a tradition that had persisted even after she had moved from being a server to a card dealer. "I like being helpful," she stated simply, setting his drink on the desk before taking a seat and sipping her own. She crossed her legs and offered him a polite smile. "And I didn't have plans today anyway. Is this your way of telling me that you're tired of my company?"

[cyberneticatoms]

Nicolas had been in the process of pouring a glass of wine as Connie walked in, having been told when she'd walked in. His eyebrows rose at her question, "You never were one for hellos," he quipped setting the glass in front of her and sitting at his own desk. Taking a sip of his own glass of whiskey he set it down, "We have been friends for a long a time, which is why I'm a little hurt you would assume I'm attempting to spy on you. Also more than a bit offended you think I would craft such a poor form of espionage." Leaning back in his own seat he set his hands in his lap, "Miss Brody isn't meant to be a spy, she's meant to be a student under you."

LOCATION: The Lotus Casino FOR: Nicolas Rivera ( @cyberneticatoms )

"Nicolas," Connie said, a polite smile on her face as she walked in and settled into the seat in front of his desk. She rarely, if ever, knocked when she came to visit him. "We've been friends for a long time, and I feel we have always been able to be frank with each other. So, I will simply ask you a candid question." She leaned back in her seat. "Do we have a problem? Or is there another reason you sent a spy to work in my office?"