Another flick of Brian's lighter cracks inside his dilapidated home. The state of it's in shambles... broken glass, no front door, and the victim of at least one bum raid while he was briefly away... leaving tossed furniture and rummaged through belongings. If there was one thing Brian's father did it was keep the house in complete order. Similar to his choom Nicholas' place... it was spotless in times past... a direct contrast to the current state of it. As Brian smokes he thinks about how pissed his father would be to see it... and how uninterested he personally is in fixing it back up. Changing times often presents itself in polarizing ways.
Zaunya sat back on the couch with her long legs crossed takes another drag... watching Brian slowly pace back and forth in the living room. An energy... body language between the two of them that conveys conversation has definitely happened prior to them being back here. Brian finally breaks the silence.
"So who's this for."
"What?"
"The gig, who gave you the job."
"This isn't a gig, just a... solo endeavor... why?"
"Any significant moves made in this city always catch a whiff from fixers..." He turns and walks toward one of the house's front windows.. scanning outside while muttering under his breath... as if she isn't even there. "Especially in this shithole where nothin's ever goin' on... that car chase and shootout raised some serious ears by now i'm sure. Gets easier to decipher the difference between a random street spat and a fallout amongst corpo's huscle... 'specially round here."
He looks back at Zaunya and catches her subtle reaction to the claim. "Six street is everywhere in this neighborhood... but when it comes to who could've snagged it in such a small time frame.. you won't have to look far."
Zaunya takes a drag of her smoke with a brief glance at the window. "Your neighbor said there was only one."
"Only one he saw." He exhales a thick cloud of smoke. "Remember... he doesn't know shit outside of those window views."
He pauses briefly, changing subject.
"Did you check the angles while we were up there."
"Yeah."
"Two blindspots in the backyard window and-"
"-One in the front on the-"
"-Right side." They both say in sync. The chemistry gives Zaunya some levity... a light tension release in her shoulders... Brian shakes his head lightly in discomfort.
He turns back around. "And what's on that right side blindspot out the front window?" He asks unable to help himself... testing her ability to observe.
"The street." She replies figuring it out.
"And you're telling me you have NO idea who it could've been."
Zaunya takes a final drag... flicking her cig out the front window.
"I was chased to Arroyo... had no business here." She glances outside again.. licking her lips and putting her black leather facemask back on... Brian catches another glimpse of her defined scar... running from her neck up to her jawline... just like his fresh wound but on the opposite end of her face. "They mirror each other..." He thinks with a simmering desire to know. She continues.
"Honestly've never really been down here before outside the occasional flyby."
"There's an outfit across the street that i know... ran by one Rick Forrester... real bleeding heart this guy. Been a six streeter for as long as I can remember. They get first dibs on pick throughs in the neighborhood whenever something like yesterday goes down. They tend to be far more... proactive than they really need to be lets say. Tried to get me to join once upon a time but..." He catches himself before finishing the thought... changing subject. "His crew's small... but loyal... only 4 or 5 em i think... we should go have a talk with em."
"Pick throughs..? A talk..? Really..? That's the plan..?" Zaunya chuckles
Brian flicks his cig out the same window she did before a glance at her. She continues.
"I'm familiar with how these things go... but yeah, lets talk."
The pair share a silence with each other for a brief moment as they prepare to leave. Zaunya breaks it.
"Y'know... you haven't asked me any-"
"-If you don't know the how... i'm not even gonna bother with the why." Brian looks directly at her in the silence. "Not yet at least."
She breaks eye contact.
"First move's ours... alot of advantages to that when dealing with a situation like this. Information's key when searchin' around in the dark... especially around here. I know this asshole as well so.. that helps."
Brian realizes hes thinking out loud before turning the thoughts towards her. "Just be discreet alright? Wait for me to move first." He says expectant.
"Oh, you think i can't be?" She raises her eyebrows... a smirk forcing her cheeks slightly above the facemask.
Brian scoffs. "Yeah.. lets avoid burned rubber car chases and neighborhood shootouts alright?"
Zaunya gets up off of the couch, standing before him with a nod of silent agreement.
He's again taken aback by her slender six-two frame... only slightly shorter than himself. He returns the nod... looking at her emerald green eyes stood equal with his. A wave of discomfort coats him like a blanket before turning to walk out the front door. The pair exit his home.