Viola and the Homeless Man (closed)

[CutiePie1997]

(This is a conversation that takes place between 2 characters from the role play, Mob Money. It is being written here so that the main thread isn't filled with our short, back and forth posts. If you are a member of the role play or simply following along, please enjoy this side thread, too. It begins immediately after this post, to which we will return you at the end of this thread.)

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"Hi," Viola said simply upon reaching the homeless man selling knickknacks on from the sidewalk of Main Street. He greeted her with a smile. Viola looked over his items, asked him about a couple of them, then asked, "How much for the charm bracelet? It's pretty."

It wasn't her style, of course. Viola's sugar daddy -- now a corpse in the morgue if not already six feet under -- had for years showered her with flawless diamonds, bright rubies and sapphires, and 18 carat gold bracelets and chains. But of all the things the man had for sale, it was the only thing Viola found at the least interesting.

 

[KingOfNowhere]

We are not writing this anymore.

 

[CutiePie1997]

Viola smiled wider, then chuckled at the man's responses. He was intriguing, and obviously intelligent. She looked to the charm bracelet again, contemplated, then opened her wallet. She withdrew a $20 bill … looked to the jewelry again … then pulled out another of the denominations, rolled them together, and stuffed them down into the register. Viola knew the bracelet had probably retailed for less than even one of the bills. But, like the man said, it was about value, not cost; to her, giving this man $40 bucks for a used item that had likely retailed at $14.99 new was more valuable to her than anything else she'd purchased that day.

She slipped the bracelet onto her wrist and rolled it around a couple of times to study the charms. "It's pretty, like I said. Thank you. I will cherish it."

After he responded, she studied him for a moment before telling him, "I was going to get some lunch. Would you care to join me…"

Viola looked to his collection of items on the blanket spread out on the concrete. She smiled playfully to him, asking, "I mean, unless you have store hours that need to be maintained."

She saw his reaction, then added, "I'm buying."

 

[KingOfNowhere]

We are not writing this anymore.

 

[CutiePie1997]

But she was.

Viola stood and waved Parker to the little table in the back, smiling with delight that he'd come. When he arrived, she looked to his change of wardrobe and freshly combed hair and complimented, "You look nice, Parker. Parker, isn't it? I'm sorry, but I forgot to ask, and the lady in the bank said Parker."

She listened to his response, then waved the waitress over. Before the woman could arrive, Viola said firmly, "And before you even begin to take money out of your pocket, I invited you … therefore I am paying! And don't argue."

They put in their food order, and after Viola asked for a glass of wine, she asked Parker, "Would you like anything? I know it's still early, but hey … I'm not on the clock and neither are you, so..."

She smiled and laughed, and once the waitress was gone, Viola began a conversation about the town of Brownsville, believing -- for right or wrong -- that her lunch partner had been a local for quite sometime. He did, in fact, have a lot to say about the town, and one common thread Viola picked up on regarding many of the subjects covered was how many of the more negative things to happen in or to Brownsville had occurred due to a lack of money.

Ever since arriving and getting her room with its fantasy rental cost, Viola had been considering different ways that she could help the town and its residents. They needed money, she had money; it seemed to be fate to her. Of course, she couldn't just rent a helicopter, hover over downtown, and dump $1.7 million in cash out the window. Oh, and don't forget the $1.2 million in uncut diamonds!

"Parker, I know we just met," Viola began with a tentative voice, "but … would you feel comfortable telling me about yourself a little more … meaning specifically … how did you end up where you are now? I would understand if this was too personal, so please, if I am offending you at all, please say so and we'll go back to talking about rhubarb pies and Christmas Light Parades."

 

[KingOfNowhere]

We are not writing this anymore.

 

[CutiePie1997]

"Violet, right?"

Viola almost corrected Parker but caught herself, remembering that she'd used her fake ID name at the bank and in meeting him both. They had a great lunch and conversation, and when he stood and announced that he was covering the tip, Viola stopped him in his tracks with, "How would you like a job?"

He responded, and she stood to ask, "Will you take a walk with me … so that we can talk."

They headed outside, stopped at the café for to-go espressos, and then headed down the sidewalk to the south as Viola explained her offer.

"I left New York City after a rich uncle of mine died," she began her mix of lies and truths. "He left me some money on the condition that I got the hell out of the City and went out into the world where I could do something good with my life … and his money. I'd like to do that something good … with my life and his money both … right here in Brownsville. Only problem is, I'm an outsider. I don't know the town. I don't know the people. I don't know the needs of either one of them. I need someone familiar with the town to help me."

She looked away from the sidewalk to Parker, adding, "And I would be willing to pay him well to help me. Interested?"

 

[KingOfNowhere]

We are not writing this anymore.