see the devil living in those eyes

"Oh, Spencer darling, I'm touched - you think I'm beautiful."

Spencer was pretty sure he just rolled his eyes hard enough to strain the optical nerve. At least they were a match in the eye rolling, both seeming to repeat the motion the longer they talked. God, why did she have to pay well? Why couldn't he just throw her out the door and be done with this headache? Oh wait, that's right, she was a temperamental firemancer who (probably) had more violence than common sense. When she shifted forward to invade his personal space, Spencer met the motion by straightening his posture so that it shifted him ever so slightly away. Thankful he had the counter to continue to provide the buffer to keep him from actually invading his space. He really wasn't the biggest fan of people that elected to just casually invade spaces. Why did they need to do something like that? They could talk just fine at arm's length.

How flattering that she had spent so much time looking into him and trusted his work so fully. If he were inclined to do so, he could even blush. However, he was never the type to frivolously blush. She was right in that he was the unlikeliest to speak. He knew his reputation and it wasn't something that arrived from thin air, no that took years of careful business transactions and crafting. The moments of knowing when to speak and when to shut up, even to the point that it had cost him his livelihood in the last home he had before Sacrosanct. That was his secret though. All the public knows is his previous shop was a victim of arson... Perhaps that was why he was so keen on preventing her from burning down this place. For now, she would have to settle for watching his thoughts twist and turn as he mentally thumbed through the options suitable for her designs.

Spencer barely - barely - stopped another potentially straining eyeroll as she dramatically proclaimed her thievery skills. It wasn't that he doubted her abilities or the fact that she had been a thief at some point, no not at all. He could just do with a straight answer for once. He huffed slightly in annoyance, jaw tightening briefly before he forced it to relax. Well, as relaxed as it ever was which wasn't much. Between the two of them, another secret - she would have to push rather hard to get to the point to see Spencer 'fly into a rage'. However, it was probably best for the two of them that she didn't push to that point. Safer too.

Parade him around? What was he, some prized peacock? He sent her an unamused look, shaking his head slightly. Ridiculous. Spencer reached over to spin the paper she scribbled on to face him, eyes darting over the writing before the scrap of paper disappeared into his pocket. He would look up the location when he returned home before he had to prep for her little errand. At the undignified squawk from Solarn, his eyebrows lifted and, perhaps for the first time in their actions, there was a look of genuine (but smug) amusement on his face. Well, that was entirely unexpected but immensely welcome to put her on the back foot for once. And so thoroughly! "Ms Solarn, you know it will work. That's why you're here and why I'll agree." He shrugged, not really seeing a point in drawing this out. Though it did beg the question of how she intended to deliver the other half to him.
"Remember, I only deal in cash and I expect to be paid in full tonight. Don't try to cheat me; it won't end well." He called after her, a hard edge taking to his warning. He watched as she left, shaking his head slightly before turning his attention to his actual work duties for the rest of his shift. Why did it seem every interaction with her ended in a headache?

Several Hours Later

While Spencer had been sorely tempted originally to go out and spend probably too much on a new suit just to shove her face in the fact that he cleaned up perfectly, Spencer did realise that was probably an overreaction to his indignation and tempered it. It was a delivery drop off for an irregular (very irregular) client. He wouldn't be able to get a new suit tailored in time for tonight and he couldn't show up in something like that. Besides, he had more important things to discuss such as why the fuck did she decide to let herself into his home. Oh, she was right. They would certainly be having that discussion at some point tonight because, as she guessed, he absolutely did not appreciate the subtle message that sent to him. Not only did she know where he lived but she knew how to enter without a trace. Well, he would have to make some subtle changes to his landscaping not that she's inadvertently illuminated some of the weak points to his security. Guess he had some gardening to do this weekend when he could afford to spend the time and, most importantly, the energy it would require.

Glancing around, he didn't spot his purpose for being here in this overpriced neighborhood until movement caught his attention in the corner of his eye. He turned to see her stepping out, Spencer adjusting his direction to approach her, his hands in his coat pockets. His eyes scanned over her, a little surprised how well she could clean up when she put the effort in. Definitely a different appearance than this morning. "Miss Solarn, flattery will get you nowhere." Hold a beat. "I'm surprised you clean up so well." He returned in greeting, though without the usual disdain or irritation, probably as close to a compliment as he was willing to give to her. As she would say, he couldn't make it too easy.

However, Spencer was a little puzzled when she hooked her arm through his, tugging him along toward a building. A building he certainly wanted to not approach filled with people he did not want to interact with and whatwashappening. "I do but what are you - " He hissed with no small amount of alarm as she directed the two of them to the front doors, his teeth clipping together audibly as she reached the front with the bodyguards. Where she may appear relaxed, he probably had enough tension in his stance for six men. What the absolute hell was happening? What was she doing? His eyes glanced sideways at her, jaw clenched tightly as he fought back the urge to demand answers or simply storm off. When she flashed a smile at him, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly, his displeasure at this charade needing no faking.

"Thrilled." There was her favourite deadpan before she was tugging him past the men and into his new hell. God, what had he done to deserve this karmic hell? Before he could demand answers, she was offering them in the worst way. THIS was the second part? Oh god no. Oh god. Oh fuck. He would rather have been forced to help dispose of a body or make up a story or lie or anything but this. She was making him break cardinal rule number one - deniable plausibility. He didn't want to know what she was doing or why or how or who.
"I should fucking up my price for this." He grumbled sullenly, unhooking his arm from hers to place a hand on her lower back as he guided them to a less crowded part of the room. They were going to have a quick conversation before this went any further. "You and I are going to have to have a chat about the rules of our business relationship, but another time. Miss... Mrs Johnson," god that was almost physically painful to utter "Is there anything else I need to know about tonight? Preferably before you drag me into it?"

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