Once she'd come into the light of their meeting place, Lauri grinned. She looked the part, stern and hard. With her hair obscuring her significant features she was almost a caricature of a hardass. It was a little hard to imagine that they'd have anything in common at all. People like Alexia didn't speak to characters like the one he presented himself as. But tonight they did. Reluctant partner, but she'd asked for this dance. There'd be a few twists and turns for her before it was over.<br/><br/>Eventually her hair was to the side. He appreciated her features. And the insults. Speaking like that to him sealed her fate tighter, but she didn't know that. Throwing her weight around was a way of life at the heights of law enforcement, just as it was in the criminal echelons. He could play along because he'd seen both sides. The Swifthart detective could think she was in control. That was the central matter of all this, wasn't it? Either of them thought they'd pinned the other. He was a means to an end to her, and she was his entertainment. A woman of her words, she paid despite her obvious disdain for him. He stuffed the money into his worn jeans, listening to her continued threats. He lifted his hands in mock defeat, to try and disarm her. It didn't work.<br/><br/>He even pretended not to notice when minute shadows on her complexion gave away that she noticed his arms and shoulders when he bared them in the car. Training and experience aside, the human animal is saturated in sexuality. He wouldn't be a very good peddler of bodily magic if he didn't see the tells on his audience and clientele. Lauri chuckled nervously and scooted away from her when she reacted to his suggestion. There really was no other way for someone like her to move in the underworld than to don their garb, though.<br/><br/>After her initial pang of suspicion she realized her was right, and treated him to a bitter strip. He didn't hide that he was pleasantly surprised when her top came off, and he got to see her brah. His favorite, though, was the reveal of her knife and its work on her skirt. "Crafty." he awarded the new skin and let her take the hoodie. This was all grating her, and he liked keeping her on the line of accepting and furious. All of this would be taken out of her later, so he might as well savor her pride now, before it was extracted. "Too late." he teased, though cautious, when she warned him about stealing mental images. It really had been an unreasonable request from her.<br/><br/>The car stopped beyond the fence and he waited for her to get out. Alexia didn't seem like the kind of girl who'd wait to be helped. The building was cut through with life, still bustling even at this hour. The evening Lauri had been so enamored with had darkened further. The day in the sky was gone. When she stood by his side, eager to come along for his tour toward the dirt of the city, he put his hand on her shoulder. She'd likely have a physical reaction to that. "Hold on, Detective." he petitioned and then stepped closer. His blue eyes dove into hers. It was a dangerous game.<br/><br/>At first his hands slid to her arms and hands, and then measured her waist underneath the hoodie he'd given her. She was probably deciding to beat him up. He took hold of the fabric of her skirt and pulled, which made the garment even shorter than she'd decided, and further ripped it. From a not too unreasonable angle, the mound of her underwear would be visible now. Lauri stepped back immediately. "Just for precaution. You needed to look the part." There was enough conjured sincerity in his eyes that it might work.<br/><br/>Whether she believed him or not, which directly correlated to his prevalence of bodily harm, they'd be walking in through the back door. The stands would be shifting from adorable trinkets to more festive fare, like scarcely disguised contraband and chemical party favors of the more legal persuasion. She trailed behind him, free to view the broad high of his back and shoulders, "Stay close, and play your part." he warned.<br/><br/>A big fellow nodded to Lauri from a distance. The man did not shrink at an appropriate rate and presented a lot like a behemoth when he eclipsed their way between stalls. Lauri was casually holding a clear drink, and greeting the man. The giant, with tattoos crawling up neck to his jaw, directed an over-sized brow at Alexia. "Yeah, yeah. You can go in, but who the fuck is this? She looks off." Good instincts on such an animal looking person.<br/><br/>Laurie pulled her into him with and arm. "This is my newest contribution. She's into all that shit, aren't you babe?" he said and tried to tip his glass on to her lips. It was vodka, cheap and strong. "I'm just showing her the ropes, if you know what I mean."<br/><br/>"Then why the fuck is she all tense and shit? She wear a wire or something?" Behemoth asked. Lauri took the opportunity to hold her out to the man after having discarded the glass on the floor.<br/><br/>"Zip down, darling." he urged her, and if she did, his hands would be all over her stomach and still covered tits. She wouldn't hold up to a search, but if she satisfied Behemoth's suspicions with a strong offensive, he'd let them through. Lauri even pulled her skirt up until it ripped further to reveal her panties. He'd push up against her if the detective hadn't already done something in anger and blown her cover. "See? She's fucking dying for it." Close to her ear he'd be able to whisper to her without anyone else hearing. "Comon, you have to act the part, or we're toast. Flash something, or do something, be a whore." It was lovely getting to use that title for her.