[ Vecchio pauses, droopy eyed, watching for just a few moments as Ray curls up in the back of the cage, and he feels a stab of pity for the guy. Hard as he might be, this is just another thing he's going to be carrying around with him, a scar that nobody would ever see, that he'd never talk about or confront. Just for a second he looked really broken, and Ray had to worry that he'd done too much, pushed too far. As he stood, he looked down at him quietly, and for a moment - since Ray was curled up tight - he let his expression become unguarded.
Fraser would help. He didn't know how, but Fraser would notice something had changed. He could be a pain in the ass sometimes, he could suck when a friend was hurting just as much as he could step in to be strong for them, but he was at least perceptive, and hell, maybe he knew this guy better than Vecchio had let Fraser know him. His replacement did seem to wear his emotions on his sleeve, no matter his efforts to hide them. If anything, his hard guy act only made his soft side easier to see through to.
He scrubbed at his neck, then became aware of his throbbing, aching hand, and decided to go ahead and get out of there. A shower would be a good start. He'd call his doctor first, clean off the filth and then get his hand seen to and stitched up while the pain was still all numbed out.
He saw to it, turned off the music on his way out so that Ray might stand a chance of sleeping, and two hours later was escorting his guys into the pool room, sharing stories with them, laughing and mocking the ravaged cop in the downstairs dungeon. At last he gathered up Ray's clothes, waving his hand for them to stay. ]
Nah, enjoy your drinks, I'll deal with this.
[ And he slipped back downstairs, heading over to the cage and dropping the clothes in through the bars. He fetched a washcloth too. ]
Wash the come off, leave the blood. And when you come out keep your head down, don't try and hide how much it hurts. It's in your best interests if they think I'm the baddest, meanest mafankulo you've ever had the displeasure of meeting. I don't want to have to strip you down and do it again in front of them just to make my point.
[ He reached in through the cage bars, brushed his good hand briefly through Ray's hair and just as quickly snatched it away. ]
They'll drive you out and put you on the side of the road somewhere, you'll have your firearm returned to you. As for your friend, watch the lobby tomorrow morning. Alright.
[ He swung open the cage door and backed up a step. He wasn't armed, not this time, except with a sausage, but then he didn't need to be. There were guys waiting upstairs, and Ray really needed his cooperation now. With the drugs at least worn off, he oughtn't to be wired enough to attack just for the sake of it. ]
Come on. Sooner you get out of here, sooner I can get back to making money. Oh, and hold this. [ He passed him the sausage. ] When we get upstairs throw it to the short shifty looking one, make sure he catches it. I'm gonna tell him I fucked you with it.
[ He really hated that little bastard; it'd be worth it. ]
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Fraser would help. He didn't know how, but Fraser would notice something had changed. He could be a pain in the ass sometimes, he could suck when a friend was hurting just as much as he could step in to be strong for them, but he was at least perceptive, and hell, maybe he knew this guy better than Vecchio had let Fraser know him. His replacement did seem to wear his emotions on his sleeve, no matter his efforts to hide them. If anything, his hard guy act only made his soft side easier to see through to.
He scrubbed at his neck, then became aware of his throbbing, aching hand, and decided to go ahead and get out of there. A shower would be a good start. He'd call his doctor first, clean off the filth and then get his hand seen to and stitched up while the pain was still all numbed out.
He saw to it, turned off the music on his way out so that Ray might stand a chance of sleeping, and two hours later was escorting his guys into the pool room, sharing stories with them, laughing and mocking the ravaged cop in the downstairs dungeon. At last he gathered up Ray's clothes, waving his hand for them to stay. ]
Nah, enjoy your drinks, I'll deal with this.
[ And he slipped back downstairs, heading over to the cage and dropping the clothes in through the bars. He fetched a washcloth too. ]
Wash the come off, leave the blood. And when you come out keep your head down, don't try and hide how much it hurts. It's in your best interests if they think I'm the baddest, meanest mafankulo you've ever had the displeasure of meeting. I don't want to have to strip you down and do it again in front of them just to make my point.
[ He reached in through the cage bars, brushed his good hand briefly through Ray's hair and just as quickly snatched it away. ]
They'll drive you out and put you on the side of the road somewhere, you'll have your firearm returned to you. As for your friend, watch the lobby tomorrow morning. Alright.
[ He swung open the cage door and backed up a step. He wasn't armed, not this time, except with a sausage, but then he didn't need to be. There were guys waiting upstairs, and Ray really needed his cooperation now. With the drugs at least worn off, he oughtn't to be wired enough to attack just for the sake of it. ]
Come on. Sooner you get out of here, sooner I can get back to making money. Oh, and hold this. [ He passed him the sausage. ] When we get upstairs throw it to the short shifty looking one, make sure he catches it. I'm gonna tell him I fucked you with it.
[ He really hated that little bastard; it'd be worth it. ]