A Friendly Date (Closed for Now)

[Racetrack]

Race shook his head sympathetically. "You never know who your real friends are till you're flat broke, your credit's gone bad, and you're deeply in debt to a giant Russian named Dragon...or, you know, generally down on your luck," he added quickly. "At least you found out who they really were."

He slowed his walk and looked at her, puffing on a new cigar that seemed to have come out of nowhere, as he carefully considered his next question.

"Favorite thing to do for fun? The races don't count, I already know that."

[Sapphy]

There were so many! Sapphy looked a little dreamily as she considered her options. Reading, exploring... They actually walked in silence for a bit before she finally looked up at Race, completely lit up.

"Dancing."

[Racetrack]

Race grinned at the way she practically glowed with happiness. "That I'd like to see." Actually, what he wanted was to take her dancing--whirl her around the floor, show off his tap-dancing moves that he'd perfected on the tables at Tibby's, hold her in his arms during a slow song, and then... Then lay off the impossible fantasies, 'cause she's done with romance and she won't even let you touch her.

"All right, so, last question..." Gotta make this one count. There was one thing he really wanted to know, but it was too personal; it would scare her off in a heartbeat. She probably wouldn't even answer, and if she did, she'd hate him for asking it. Something else, serious but not out of line. "When your family went out west," he said hesitantly, "were you ever mad at them for leaving you? I'd've been mad."

[Sapphy]

"Never," Sapphy said, without a flinch or a second thought. In fact, she smiled even wider. "I volunteered. They wanted my younger brother to stay behind, but I said I was the eldest and it should be my responsibility. I wanted Kevin to see the west first, anyway. I miss them all terribly... But I'll see them again."

She smiled down at her feet, holding her hands behind her back as they walked further.

"You do know what this means, right?" she asked, looking up at Race with a devilish grin.

[Racetrack]

"That it's my turn?" He tried to look brave and unflinching. "My life is in your hands, m'lady. Or whatever parts of it you choose to question me about."

[Sapphy]

Sapphy looked at Racetrack for a moment with a tilted head, trying to judge if this question was going to get an answer.

"...Dragon?"

[Racetrack]

Race sighed and flashed a self-deprecating smirk. "All right, then. I was maybe fourteen, new to Manhattan, didn't know a thing about the local gambling dens yet. In Brooklyn, y'know, you always hear everyone's soft on the other side of the river, that it's easy to cheat 'em or take 'em in a fight. And honestly, I was a little depressed after the way things ended in Brooklyn, so I started spending all my time and money in this one wolf trap over in Five Points.

"Well, I was good with a deck of cards, but I couldn't seem to get enough and end on a high note, so it was never long before I was broke and playing on credit. Long story short, I ran up quite a tab. The dealer was usually this Russian guy called Dragon, and yeah, he was massive and terrifying, but he didn't say much, and I always figured he was kinda slow. Till a couple of his goons caught me on the way home one night and gave me a taste of what would happen if I didn't pay up within the week." He checked out Sapphy's reaction, kind of enjoying the drama of the story even though it wasn't exactly a flattering one.

"I didn't think anyone'd spot me that big a loan, so I kinda figured I was dead. But Blink and Mush got me to tell 'em everything, and for the rest of the week, they saved every cent they made and handed it over to me. We weren't even paying rent at this point--all three of us were sleeping on the steps. It was summer, though," he admitted, "so it wasn't that bad.

"Anyway...by the end of the week, it still wasn't enough. I headed for Five Points with the money I had, figuring they might at least kill me quickly if I gave 'em something...but I got stopped on the way by some kid I'd never seen before. A runner. He just handed me a bag and walked away. And it was full of cash--enough to pay off my debt and a little to spare for rent.

"And that," he concluded, "is how I found out who my real friends were. On both sides of the river." He kicked at a couple of dry leaves. "I never said a word to Spot about it, but I knew."

[Sapphy]

Sapphy gaped at Race the entire time. She wasn't even walking any longer. Sure, Kevin got into tight situations very similar to that before, but nothing like this.

"That. Is possibly the best and most terrifying story I've ever heard. I'm-I'm glad you're okay and I got to meet you and all..." She started pulling her bottom lip with her fingertips once more then resumed walking. "And I'm going to use my two remaining questions for follow-up... Do you still go to Dragon's place?"

For some reason, it was really important for her to know this. As if with this answer, she'd know the kind of man Racetrack was.

[Racetrack]

"I'm glad I got to meet you too," Race assured her with a smile, partly gratified that she'd gotten so into the story and partly alarmed that it, like his news of the trouble in Brooklyn, seemed to upset her so much. She clearly didn't like her friends taking risks. Which was exactly the kind of friend he needed, come to think of it, since risk was kind of what he thrived on.

Her next question made him nervous--he wondered if she hoped for an affirmative, a display of daring and bravado, but he answered honestly. "Nope. Not once. There are plenty of other casinos around here, and don't ever tell Spot I said so, but Five Points is actually rougher than most of Brooklyn."

[Sapphy]

Sapphy silently took Race's hand in hers. She was obviously pleased to hear this.

"You're a true man, Racetrack Higgins." She then released his hand after letting it swing between them for a moment. "Last question... How's your debt? To make an awkward money-related question less awkward, I owe the woman who lives above my old apartment $10 and other than that, I'm just flat broke."

[Racetrack]

It was a good thing Race had an excellent poker face, or he couldn't have concealed his surprise and triumph at the fact that she had actually touched him. Yes, she'd let go of his hand, but it was a start! He had an extremely girlish urge to run to Little Italy and tell Raven about it, so it was probably a good thing she couldn't get out of Brooklyn too often.

He laughed at Sapphy's last question. "I'm actually doing all right now. Just to improve my image a little after that story, I'd like to point out that I usually win at cards and dice, and I ain't a half-bad newsie either. I lose at the tracks, but rarely more than I can afford. And Jack Kelly happens to owe me eight bucks at the moment, so I'm on the right side of the debt window." He finished his cigar and tossed away the stub, hesitating before he decided to go on. "If I'm ever going through a rough time, though, or I got a lot to deal with, you should probably take away my money and watch me like a hawk, if Mush don't beat you to it."

And with that, the lodging house finally came into view. It was startling to think of the night coming to an end; he felt like he'd just spent a week with this girl, not a day. He stopped near the steps to smile at Sapphy. "You'll let me know if you ever want any help with your debt, right? I know your neighbor probably won't be cornering you in an alley or nothing, but I like to help my friends out when I can...which is pretty often, when the cards are falling right."

[Sapphy]

"You never know," Sapphy laughed awkwardly. "She's hard as nails for a sixty-three year old. But for now, I'm fine. I can take care of it myself. But thank you for offering."

Sapphy stalled outside of the lodge, leaning heavily against the doorway. She hadn't a chance to talk to someone like this in a very, very long time. She quite enjoyed it despite her nagging insecurities that were constantly in the back of her head.

[Racetrack]

Race leaned against the railing across from her and just looked at her cheerfully, enjoying the summer night and their easy, non-awkward silence. "Well, we've used up all our questions," he observed at last, "but I can think of about fifty more off the top of my head, and a few other places I'd love to take you. So unless you're sick of me, care to do this again sometime?"

[Sapphy]

Sapphy wasn't stupid. She knew Racetrack was interested in her. She also knew her good and friendly nature had a tendency to give people the wrong idea -- that she was flirty, or something.

If Shaye Nolan was flirting with you, you'd know. She'd have your back literally up against a wall.

"I'd like that," she agreed. "It's nice to have a friend." She tried not to put any emphasis on the word friend, but saying it alone was her way to gently go about this. "And hey," she said quickly, not wanting to leave it there. "Three honest-to-god questions a day each, what do you say?"

[Racetrack]

"I couldn't ask for more," Race said, and he really kind of meant it. He hadn't dared to hope for half this much after the way she was acting when they first met. And he'd try not to put too much stock in what Rae had said about heartbroken girls always moving on in the end, and friendship being a good foundation for future bliss.

He'd try.

"Then, Sapphy," he said, trying out the nickname for the first time since he'd heard it used around the house, "I bid you good night." He took off his hat and swept her a bow.