New-fucking-York City. (Open!)

[Dane Lynch]

New-fucking-York. In a sense, he supposed it was better than being stuck in dives out in Vegas or Los Angeles, but it still wasn't home. He'd done his gigs out in those whereabouts for years, always running after this or that, chasing the elusive Charles Nevarie down in attempt to end his wild and unamusing, sickening, ways. But the man was like the Wizard of Oz; stashed away and hidden like the man behind the curtain. Always watching, but never readily seen by those who attempted to take him out. The one occasion he'd gotten close enough to do so, his guardsmen - his lackeys - had apprehended him and left him unconscious and stripped of his pistols. That was fun..

But, New York. While it wasn't Ireland, he was figuratively invisible. Nobody knew his face; nobody knew his name. No one knew his profession, and what else could he ask for? Perhaps it would turn to be a blessing in disguise, though he highly doubted it. It might've been more enjoyable for the modern day cowboy, had he the same family he'd had just a few years ago. Funny how fate always jumps up to kick you down, face-first into the pavement, when you thought you were finally settling in on top of things. New York. Maybe it was a fresh start, until he had no choice but to flee back to his homeland. Which was just a matter of time; it was inevitable when you lived his kind of life.

The shipping and receiving of belongings went easily enough, and the last to arrive was undoubtedly his daughter. Walking hand-in-hand with a ginger-haired young man who had the grin of a charmer, but the mouth of a sailor. Once the three of them had made it out of the terminal, Kip - the red-head - went to give directions to the awaiting moving truck, and Dane took Lea's hand and lead her to the already-uncrated and waiting '97 Camaro. Deep Purple. It lived up to it's name. "Go on, buckle up," he said, with a tip of his chin as he opened the door and released her tiny hand. Lea did, indeed, climb into the back seat - into her booster - and pulled the seatbelt right across and fastened it before Dane had ever even pushed the seat back into place and dropped in behind the wheel.

Kip ventured back to the car himself, knocking on the trunk so it would be unlatched, before depositing a matte black case inside, along with three black duffle bags. Slamming it closed, he all but sped to the passenger side and slid in through the window. T-tops made it possible. Dane only shot a glance at him before firing up the engine that purred with purpose, and backed it right out of the parking space and shifted into first gear to get them headed in the right direction: the main street, of course.


It took hours, with numerous breaks to keep a three year old occupied, to unload the truck into the three bedroom house that would likely never, ever, become a home. All the boxes were put in the appropriate rooms, all the furniture placed just the same, before either Dane or Kip decided it was quittin' time. Lea had already crashed out on her gigantic, stuffed pink bear, and for once, he was undecided as to wake her or just let her sleep. It was a long flight, after all, and since the girl stayed with his mother usually.. it was, without a doubt, more excitement than she was used to. But, the hardwood floor wouldn't be comfortable for long-- and he'd likely wind up depositing her in her own room, onto the Disney Princess bed that wasn't at all the cheap plastic kind.

While the red-haired young man rambled in a thick Irish accent about the trip, Dane casually lit a cigarette and leaned his head back to rest against the back of the sectional sofa. Apparently, they were friends for other reasons, because Dane didn't open his mouth to reply.. didn't laugh or smirk.. he just listened, smoked, and contemplated other things that were quite out of view, yet. It was a habit. Whether or not he was sitting with company - friend or otherwise - he was always running things through his mind, in a sense, in order to get a better grasp on just what the usually-new job consisted of. This one? Didn't seem quick, but it did seem more like a stroll through the park.

Eventually, Kip shut up and moved to hoist Lea up into his arms before disappearing down the long, echoing hallway. Though the bed wasn't made, he put the little girl in it and snatched open a box to pull out a blanket to cover her with. Then? Like some sort of little housebitch, he went ahead with the unpacking of - at least - the little girl's room.

Dane? Dane was on the move. He'd pulled his jacket back on, patted at the sides to make sure everything was in place, then slipped out the front door without a sound. If he was going to get settled in and used to a city that was completely new to him.. the first steps were, well, walking the streets. His walk lead him around the square-like neighborhood, and further out to where the shops and stores were; the street vendors with food, the vagabond kings and queens shaking their tin cups for change..

And he stopped long enough to glance either way, up and down the street, before settling himself on a bench just out of the way of the hustle. Everyone had their quirks, right? He wasn't going into it blind. He wasn't going into it dumb. And you'd best believe by nightfall? He'd be scoping out the fire escapes, and vantage points that could be of use.

[Little Bit]

The small figure had darted from one dark shadow to another, expert at keeping out of sight. In fact, if someone did catch sight of the scurrying Little Bit they might think it was just a small dog diving for shelter for the night. Silence was her friend and she had become good at being quiet too. After watching the flurry of activity surrounding a big truck, she had taken cover to watch some more and the sun set leaving darkness behind. Her stomach said it was time to visit the dumpster behind that smell-good place but this time curosity kept her from seeking the necessities of life. Staying in one place for too long was never a good idea though even if she was in a good hidey-hole. She was about to leave when there was movement. Someone left! Her head tipped slowly to the side but she made no moves yet. She knew better. Had to be careful or be caught.

And she was very careful. When she finally moved, she stayed back but followed thinking it was strange he wasn't really GOING anywhere. Little Bit again was bit by the curious bug. Why would one of the big people not go somewhere? She ducked into one of her favorite secret places. Wide brown eyes watched from a pool of darker shadows that gathered under a metal stairwell leading up to a second floor apartment on a building not too far away. If anyone knew the neighborhood and surrounding area, it was Little Bit. So she finally figured out that the big person was just learning, watching.

And because of that, she decided he was dangerous.

[Dane Lynch]

It would've seemed entirely casual, the way he sat there perched on the bench just watching the passers by and very occasionally glancing off past the street vendors, towards the actual buildings that reached for the sky. Mentally calculating the steps from here to there, and back again. Dane leaned to the side then, and pulled the box pack of Marlboros from his front jacket pocket. Clenching one of the filters between his teeth, it was freed from the remaining bunch and the pack disappeared into his pocket only to be replaced with a chrome Zippo. After flipping the lid open, however, he didn't strike the flint.

The best part, though, was even if he had a hunch he knew he'd been followed.. he didn't let on. Especially not while out in big, vast, open places that was the city. It was likely, however, that at once point or another.. despite the dark.. those hazelnut colored eyes passed right over the stairwell where - whoever, or whatever - was lurking. You ever get the feeling you were being watched? He was fairly privy to it, though his own senses were simply tuned by his own doing-- it wasn't at all what the certain group that had contacted him were after, of course.

Finally, Dane lit his cigarette and snapped the Zippo closed before resettling himself forward, with only his head tilted to the side to avoid the smoke from burning his eyes. One hand passed through the stylishly messy hair before hanging off the shelf made by his left knee. Biding his time, waiting..

New York. He should've figured even the first day would be interesting..

[Little Bit]

You know how a cat can sit still for hours, not moving but perfectly intent on their prey? So could Little Bit. She barely blinked and didn't even seem to be breathing. Her stunted frame wrapped in shadows where she sat with her back against the building, fingers wrapped around a brace bolted into the wall. Her hair was long and matted, filthy really. Her face was smudged and her clothes, well, the smell might give her away. When she finally moved, it was a swing that let her slide feet first into the sewer drain. A plunk later, she was running through the storm drains full tilt toward dinner. Did she think she would be followed? Not a chance. Big people couldn't get into the sewer drains. Not without the bigger openings. So this was where she felt safer. Not safe .. just safer.

But don't think that big person would be forgotten. She knew he was dangerous and dangerous was bad.

[Dane Lynch]

There was no way that that slipped by him. A small thing slinging herself - or, at least, he thought it was a she - right down into the sewer drain? It piqued his curiosity, to say the least, and though he didn't act on it immediately.. after a few more draws from his cigarette, he pushed up from the bench. Up to his full-on height of six-foot-three, and his steps were slow, deliberate, and quiet - despite the debris that lined the street as he crossed - right over to where the little thing had been sitting a good moment ago.

Right over to the sewage drain, and though he didn't stoop down, he tilted his head to the side in an attempt to look down. Not like he could have fit in a hundred-thousand years if he'd tried, but.. it was interesting, wasn't it? But don't think for a second that the modern-day cowboy was off his guard. It was just curious.

Instead of lingering though - and though the thought didn't pass - Dane turned his attention up the flight of stairs. With just a sort of 'tch' sound, he shifted away and started up those stairs. Back to work, it seemed. He had layouts to construct, after all.