2020-01-13 - A Proposition

Roxy comes to the gym on the regular now, to get her boxing lessons, but usually she shows up dressed to work out, not in a lovely green and black plaid coat dress with faux fur trim (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/784189353848756816/). But there she is, walking through the door, all dolled up like she means business, and heading straight back towards the office to look for one Joseph Kelly.

The click of her heels on the floor are audible first, before she raps her knuckles lightly on the door frame, to announce herself, purse held in one hand, and a manila folder tucked under her arm.

Joey has been busy. Hunting Season(tm) for Felix Monaghan is presently a second full-time job for him. Sleep is scarce and naps are precious. Still, he's put the remainder of his energy into practicing. For a brick of meat he knows, at least, the key to surviving much bigger dudes than himself is to stay quick and stay agile, and he's been practicing his ass off. Sure parkour and running from teh cops is great and all but he's not going to be 22 forever and there's only so many places to go in Gray Harbor. Inaparticular: Dancing with Roxy when he can.

He's not talkative, and never has been, but when she does he listens like a sponge and when she's scared Well he puts that damn problem to rest. He's never mentioned that fever dream they ran through again, and hasn't needed to, but since one eye's stayed on pikkusisko. So when she shows? His attention snaps up and he watches with a long, silent and curious intent; a slow concern drawing on him. "You're not leaving are you?" Of all the things to be concerned about.

Roxy blinks a few moments at the question, then she laughs quietly. "No, of course not. Even if I wanted to, I am not sure that Gray Harbor would allow me to leave." She steps into the office and closes the door behind her, moving to settle into an available chair. "I'm here on business. Literally business," she quips, setting her purse in her lap and giving the boxer a wry smile.

"It has come to my attention that our dance studio we practice in, has come up for sale. And I would like to buy Dance Evolotion and get out of the exotic dancing business for good. However, although I have a good amount of funds to put down, I do not have the credit rating a bank wants for a proper loan, so I would need a cosigner. A business partner. A co-owner." She looks pointedly at her dance partner and bestie.

It's not often Joey gets to feel relief and all too often it's surrounding the notion that someone's not going to bleed to death today, or a lowering of arms. This is the marked exception. Hands come up and rub his face; body sitting up and leaning forward to fold on the desk to loo at her. "Come in and close the door." No she's not in trouble, but he can't help much how he talks. "I'm all ears."

When she talks about the Dance Studio there's a disappointment there. He might not express it but he's spent a share of his hidden time there away from Thugworld. While he doesn't particularly occupation shame (and hell before Fall half of his paycheck has been known to fall into re-circulation at Antonio's) he says watching her, "Good." Business loan. Sitting back he takes a look around in the only real thing he has as collateral. Well that and... he's not ready to drag Felix into backing him, but he will be talking to his guy about drafting some paperwork there.

Looking back into the ardent expression of the once-doe in front of him, chewed on by the wolves of the world and preyed on by dogs... but still standing. God he is so fucking proud of her. His eyes squint and is, in all truthiness, incredibly impressed. Tapping one rough finger attached to that rough meaty hand that's familiar to lift her up instead of drag her back like many he asks, "You remember when... you called me on the phone that time crying and upset because those assholes tried to hurt you by your hotel? And you asked me for help?"

Sitting up he moves his chair closer and looks up at her standing there way too clean for his office. Looking up the green catches the amusement in his eyes though his natural scowl unable to keep up , "I told you, 'whatever you need'. So, yeah. Whatever you need. Let's see what we got so far and what all we need to do."

Roxy watches Joey go through so many stages of emotion in such a small amount of time, she looks bewildered. But when he declares himself on board with her idea, her face lights up like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. She looks so excited, it's a new thing for her, to have this much hope. The frightened doe has become stronger, more courageous. She may be fragile in body, but she is strong in mind and spirit.

She sets the manila folder on the desk and opens it, pulling out some paperwork for applying for a business loan at the local bank, and the documentation and listing for the property itself. The equipment is being included in the sale, thankfully, so they will not need to start from scratch. She also pulls out paint swatches for repainting the interiors.

"I am getting rid of the gymnastics and gymnasium component entirely, so we can sell any of that equipment that you don't want to put in here," she notes with a grin. "So we will have three proper studio spaces in there, one dedicated for ballet with the necessary barres and such. The other two will be shared spaces for classes in contemporary, jazz, hip hop, pole dancing, and couples ballroom lessons."

Joey listens and watches Roxy go through this shift; energy and mood picking up and while he's not even in contention for world's most empathetic soul he gives a shit to notice, and care its happening. Her face lights up as she discusses her very tangible plan to get out. When she talks about some of the other equipment going he offers, "Might be able to use some of it here. Can see about selling what ain't needed on Craig's List and turn that over for opening costs."

After a long, hard to read silence is says quietly in that voice like gravel under boot, "I know a couple people who talk real estate. I'll make sure they're-" He stops trying to learn how to talk to her and shifts gears enough to say, "they're giving you best price." She doesn't need to know he and some of Felix's people might lean on some other people to make some things magically 'optimal' or less difficult to acquire... but he is. "I like it. I think... I think it's a great plan and it's time and if someone tries to tell you no? Lemme know." The rare, faint but rare, smile creeps up on his unshaven mug. "I want this for you. Maybe both of us, but we'll make it happen."

Roxy smiles happily at Joey and she chews her lower lip. "You don't have to teach of course. But I could use help with the business and accounting side of things and since you run your own business, would you be willing to assist with that? I would need your help now and then to teach pas de deux things, and maybe some two person routines, but that can be your regular dance time. I don't want to interfere with your gym."

She pulls out a colorful pen and begins drawing new lines on the old blueprints, showing where the gym and gymnastics area would be split for the other two studios. "The contemporary and jazz studio I'd like to have track lighting, and leave the brick outer wall exposed, and put mirrors on the opposite, with hardwoods."

Joey leans over and squints a look to her, "Outside of helping my uncle out time to time," He means doing Monaghan's dirty work, "and taking care o f my gym I can give a few hours there not a problem." He pauses and admits to her, "I don't sleep much." It's not the greatest way to express his thoughts, but using Joey is not the best way to express his thoughts either. His jaw sets and he leans back in the chair that is kind enough to hold him in spite of age and relative abuse.

"I lie the brick for contemporary, will we have-" There's a pause and he frowns asking curiously, "They thinkin tap too?" Oh sure, NOW he is curious. His head tilts and he tries to sound casual instead of curious and says, "I heard it's a bit of like... a lost art but Janelel Monae makes it pretty cool and didn't know if... we could maybe learn... some of that movie you had me watch. I thought that could be kinda awesome for us to try out."

Roxy ponders. "I never learned tap, but if we could find a proper instructor for it, we could certainly have classes. I have some contacts for instructors already. When I was in Portland I looked at some dance studios in the hopes of getting back into dance proper, before I realized my identity issues would be a problem."

She pulls out another sheet and on it are names, contact information, and the styles of the potential teachers. Ballet, Contemporary, Ballroom, Jazz, and Hip Hop are all covered, as is pole dancing by the Cabaret's Mae.

Joey looks and both eyebrows go up when she mentions poles and Mae. "Naw shit aaaaw damn. I dig it. She bought me ribs." She shoved cash in his briefs but it's nicer to say this way. He appreciates food as much as the next athlete. Arching an eyebrow his head tilts, "You know if the pole is there could be cool to actually mix the pole dancing, the ballet, and the damn though I don't know how. But... if anyone can figure it out you can." He looks back to the plan pausing going through it and nudging her with the pages, "Soooo this mean you'll learn this with me?"

"Pole dancing as a sort of exercise and dance combination has become very popular in this country. I know Mae had held a few classes before it closed, and I would like to continue them. She is willing to continue teaching. She has been very kind to me."

At the question Roxy nods her head enthusiastically. "Of course! I am quite excited about all of this. I think I have found a solid purpose for my life, connected to who I was, a whole new who I could yet be."

Joey holds a hand out to her, palm up. "I dig Mae. She's good people. Good damn business sense too. " It's a high compliment. He turns in his chair and looking up at her, taller from this angle. It's a curious thing, but people meet one another in strange places in their life at times. "I like not throwing out our place. It wasn't done yet." There might be more than that, but he doesn't express any of that. He's shit with talking, but he'll be there whatever that requires. "I a...I don't know. You're happy, and I want you to be happy so... I'm..." bad at this. "Roxy, I'm excited you're getting this. You remember that... time we ran through the dark?"

Roxy lowers her eyes at the mention of being happy, blushing slightly. "Mostly happy," she admits. She is still lonely, but getting her life together and back on track was more important than silly things like romance or relationships.

Then mention of the Dream though, she looks up at him, bright blue eyes wide. "I can't forget. I have dreamed it since I came back from that place, over There. I think it was something they did to me there. But it had never had people I knew in it with me, they were just normal dreams. That one was NOT."

Joey watches her expression when she says she remembers. His expression clouds with a small nod. "I have it.. a few times a week now. I go... back. Not, like," His rough hand rolls in a circle and he lacks the finess to explain properly. His head shakes. "I try to understand it but I keep running. I keep chasing, and I can't stop. I keep looking for the master of the hunter." Looking down at his hands and frowns with a squint, "And I wake up with blood in my knuckles. I can't tell if that's weird or not."

Roxy reaches a hand over for one of his to hold it gently. "They wanted to turn us against one another, to make me afraid of you. I refused to let it happen, just as you and Javier and Miss Sutton refused to finish me. They wanted to reduce you to the level of vicious animals, and you all resisted. If you ever need to talk it out, I am here for you Joseph. You have done so much for me."

Joey holds her hand and gives it a squeeze. He could crush it, and he's well more than capable, but he does not. He does admit without guilt, "Oh, I was. I crushed a man's head and chest in with my fist. I... I'll be honest it wasn't the first time I had to hunt. I mean won't be the last. But I ain't... gonna let me hurt mine." His brow furrows and he shakes his head letting it chew away at him. "Just... don't let me, okay?"

Roxy smiles wanly at him and squeezes that hand very gently. "I will not let you hurt me. But I am not afraid of you Joseph. I trust you. You are my dance partner, my friend, my..." She pauses a few moments, clearly backing off something she was going to say, "My business partner."

Joey watches her and gives her hand a squeeze for her assurance or his. He knows her as well as anyone. Except Jaime. Obviously. "I... used to get hurt too." He doesn't know how to translate it, and really withthe look he gives her he doesn't really need to and the particulars may not be important. He holds onto her hand though finding what is essential and can be translated. "They hurt me. They hurt mom. They did until I made it so people can't hurt me anymore and... I could make them stop, Roxy." Squeezing his jaw his shoulders slacken promising, "I don't want you to have to need to do that. They don't get to hurt you either."

"They hurt me badly. I have two years of my life that are mostly blank pages, and came back to having nothing at all, not even my name. But I won't let Them prevent me from living, and making my own path, and finding joy. They will not succeed at that. They will fail. Do not let Them succeed with you, Joseph." Roxy looks at him imploringly. She needs him to fight as hard as she is.

Joey chuckles with that wry grin making its subtle appearance assuring, "Already took a chunk out of me. Didn't need to be a huntmaster, but I guess it hardly matters. Just... we don't always have to do shit alone. And-" He concisers the small puzzled together family that is assembled by time and condition. he doesn't finish the thought but he doesn't have to really. "You, um, you keeping the name of the place?" Much easier than addressing the rest.

Roxy listens to him with that intense gaze of her, too bright and too focused for comfort for most people. When he changes the subject, she looks for a moment like she might interject, but she doesn't. "Oh, yes. Name recognition in town, although I'll be getting a new logo and signage."

Joey doesn't talk about feelings and shit. He talks defence and even in dancing placing. Pulling himself to his feet he lets go of her hand and pulls her into a wobbling bear hug. "Damn proud of you. And I like the name aaaand if you got time I would love to take my new business partner out. to. lunch." Letting her go he says, "And I also worked out something for you for your training so we can focus on using what you are good at to get out of trouble so you, my friend, can go about your day."

Roxy is pulled into the hug and returns it with a warm laugh of relief. Her new business hinged on Joey's help, and he's been more than willing. "Lunch would be lovely, Joseph. Ah, if Nicole would not mind it? I do not wish to step on her toes or upset her."

Joey seems confused by this and shakes his head, "We don't do jealous, Roxy. But I appreciate you cosidering this." Reaching over his grabs his coat and his keys from his pocket. "Lemme let Duarte know I'm stepping out, and you can tell me where we're headed." He grabs his leather jacket and also the knit cap he peels on his head to keep his ears warm. "I think this'll work with my new fight schedule too. This is good news. You tell Lobo yet?" Old wolf, old tricks, but still regarded.

Roxy gathers up the paperwork and shakes her head in the negative. "No, I have not seen Javier since I moved out of the Motel. I believe he moved as well. I should give him a call and let him know where I am and about the studio."

Joey zips his coat and pauses looking to her and says, "You should. He's a friend and... somethin tells me that man is always in short fucking supply of good news." Truth. Also half the time because of shit his team is doing, but that's another story.

Roxy has gone a little shy as she bundles up. "He is going to teach me to shoot a gun. So I will definitely contact him. I just needed to get this taken care of first. Now that I feel I am on solid footing for the first time in years, I can do other things." She follows Joey out.

"You'll hit, you'll punch, you'll dance and when you can do all that?" He flashes a wry grin to her, "I can retire in one piece. Move down to teh Baja like my uncle and hide from the cops there." And then he considers they're telling Ruiz and he backs that up to say "Okay all but one." That one he can live with though.