Cars, Money and Booze

[Spark Long]

Spark whistled low as he walked into the dealership, corvettes all around new and old, a bright orange 63' convertible in particular catching his eye... bella machina! Just wonderful with all the right curves, like a woman she had his full undecided attention...

He wanted to reach out and touch her, all the other people in the building, all the salesmen, the shoppers all there petty conversations melting about him... it was just him.... and her.

But what about the others? What about the Ferrari and the Stang... would the be jealous of this spitfire? And what about the Cadillac and the town car... of course he wasn't really into them but they did the job well at benefits and business meetings. He circled around and opened the hood, she had a Big Block V8... everything he wanted.

It was settled he'd buy her.

[Asmodeus]

It wasn't because the car was beautiful. It was, certainly, but the color was garish and the body was too curvy. It would stick out like a sore thumb in his garage, and he would stick out like a sore thumb driving it. It also wasn't because the car was expensive. It was, certainly, but he had already spent enough money to prove his superiority. The Cadillac 16 in his garage was proof enough on its own. It also wasn't because he was in a particularly generous mood. He never was.

It was because Long wanted it.

Darmstadt rested his elbow on the salesman's desk and nodded to the bright orange '63. "How much?"

[Spark Long]

Spark heard it, he knew that voice...he forced himself not to look up, he had to keep his cool, not doing so was... blood in the water to Wolfe he'd heard it so many times... rumor had it a man had jumped from his penthouse window in this man's wake... He eyed the car though putting his hands in the pocket of his suit.

"$46,900," said a salesman walking over to the two, and true to form "I'll take it." He said with a smile Wolfe could find himself a go-kart and eat it if he wanted this one was his.

[Asmodeus]

Darmstadt let a smile spread slowly across his face. So Long wanted to poke the bear, eh?

Slowly he folded his arms over his chest and turned his back to Long, talking sidelong to the salesman. Loud enough for Long to hear, of course. "How do you feel about a bidding war?"

[Spark Long]

The salesman smiled, this had the potential to make his whole year, of course he felt great about it. He nodded. But Spark was fuming, under his calm exterior he snarled, Spark was here first, couldn't Wolfe get another car.... he didn't even look like a vette man anyhow why the hell was he getting in between him and the spitfire?

"Fine Wolfe, $50,500." Please be responsible Wolfe and go home...

[Asmodeus]

Darmstadt smirked and glanced at the salesman sideways, still not facing Long. Why would he, when the salesman was the one he really came here to talk to? Surely Long wasn't his real focus, no, of course not.

"I could say $50, 501 if I wanted to be a terrible annoyance, couldn't I? That would be a really mean thing to do. I'm much more generous than that." His smirk only grew. "$50, 502."

[Spark Long]

Suddenly, his hands were around Wolfe's throat, gripped tightly as he shook the man back and forth. Gasping sounds coming from him as Spark's rage descended down on him like fire from heaven.

His eye twitched a bit, an involuntary spasm as, reality came rushing forward. The salesman looked about ready to dance for joy, this was ridiculous, what game was he playing?

"How very generous of you Mr. Wolfe," He said trying to keep the distaste from his voice,"50, 550, and I'll have a CD player installed and new black leather seats..." He looked around seeing those little hulla women dancing on one of the desks. "And I'll buy one of those too..."

[Asmodeus]

Long's voice was surprisingly smooth for someone being so easily outclassed.

"51, 500. And if we have to start raising by $10,000 each time, maybe that'll move things along a little faster." Darmstadt gave the salesman a genuine smile--or at least, one that looked genuine. "By the way, how's your mother? Still need that expensive prescription? You know, I happen to be good friends with the director of the hospital downtown."

[Spark Long]

Spark shook his head looking at his watch, he didn't have time for this.... he had to meet people, had to look over the new project and then the assembly line... He gave both men one of his best smiles and bowed... he'd go to the corvette factory in Tennessee and get one for himself later, she wasn't the only fish on the road... or however that saying went.

"I would have hoped to have bought this one and if it worked out get another for a friend's daughter's graduation but, it wasn't meant to be.... I've got appointments to make anyhow.... enjoy your car Mr. Wolfe." He did an about face, an old throwback from his younger days and exited the building... he needed any one of his three normal vices a cigarette, a woman or a drink he didn't much care which... hell maybe all three.

The town car driver drove up and he folded himself in... "Jack, nearest convenient store." He'd get a pack, he just had to hide it from Asaph, and Ranna....

He probably should have kept fighting, she was such a pretty car... briefly he could close his eyes and see himself, a girl in the seat next to him driving down through the outskirts, Canned Heat on the radio and he let out a sigh, he might need that drink after all.

[Asmodeus]

Long. What an easy target. And so transparent when he tried to play the passive-aggressive game. "Friend's daughter's graduation," eh? If, if that was true, it was sappy. If it was a lie, it was downright petty.

But who was Darmstadt to call someone petty?

"Send me the bill," he said to the salesman as he walked off without a backward glance at the car he'd just bought. He'd drive his 16 home; it was finer, anyway. Maybe the new orange atrocity would make a good present for Sawley.

Better than the demo derby, right?

[Spark Long]

After buying the pack Spark settled in for the ride back to the office he lit up and took a long drag, all his little chores could be taken care of at a later date, he was the boss right? Of course he was, he felt like some job escaping fun. He knew the perfect running buddy too.

"Jack, go to Ranna's and then head back to the house... have Rita cancel my appointments too." He gave the order and they were off, they arrived and he stepped out straightening out his tie and smoothing his suit.

"Hey, who do you have to go down on to get the person in charge around here?" He joked loudly as he entered the shop.

[Sky Verati]

Ranna wriggled out from underneath a silver Saleen S7, covered in grease up to her elbows, her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. "Spark!" As the owner of the shop, she was entitled to work on the most expensive car in the place. As one of the most talented mechanics around for almost several states, Ranna usually had plenty of those to choose from.

She set down her tools and stood up. "Hold on one second. Lemme wash my hands." And she was gone in as long as it took for her to tell him, dark hair and wide hips swaying with the motion of her departure. She reappeared again half a moment later, wiping her hands off with a towel. "What can I do for ya?"

[Spark Long]

Spark smirked watching her, and he didn't have to hide it, she knew it, and she'd probably be insulted if he didn't look. He whistled low moving over toward her. "You can take me out tonight." He said sitting on one of her counters. "What do you say we head up to Shreveport, play some craps, have some drinks maybe get a hotel?" He pulled out his phone ready to call a helicopter... so he could have a drink now of course.

"Please!" He pleaded trying to play cute. "You know you want to take off with a handsome rich boy."