The opportunity to let his bitterness show was too good to pass up. After all, Enzo was still a bit tetchy over the fact that Kosei had up and abandoned him to improve or whatever. Clearly that didn’t always pay out so well, because here he was. Turned up on Enzo’s stoop like a runaway dog returned.[break][break]

He didn’t miss the partial retort Kosei made before it was swallowed up by Miu’s outcry. But he did ignore it for a moment longer as he let out a robust laugh and scooped the little girl up. “How are you, topolina? Are you keeping your papà in line, hm?” Swinging her a bit in the air as he stood once more, and then settled her comfortably in his hold.[break][break]

Then his attention moved back to Kosei, gaze narrowing. “Mhm, sure you aren’t,” he said flatly. Enzo swiveled on his heels then, “Would you like to see Cassius, Miu? I do believe he’s missed you quite a lot.” It wasn’t wholly untrue–though the houndoom likely wasn’t lamenting her absence, he was quite gentle with her.[break][break]

“Come on then, Kosei, keep up. I haven’t got all day to deal with you,” he called back over his shoulder, behaving as though Kosei was the one dillydallying. “This is better discussed in my study.” Enzo made no effort to slow his pace as he moved away, down one of the tall-ceilinged halls to the left.

[break][break]
Kosei Kiryu | xoxo

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

illeana reyes is not the only one doing their share of people watching that evening.[break][break]

Of course, the individuals who work and frequent his establishment on a regular basis know who he is and have simply accepted Enzo as a part of the backdrop. It is not uncommon to see him floating through the busier communal rooms, often with his houndoom dogging his heels.[break][break]

Today, however, he is on his own, and he makes a habit of learning the faces who come around. Learns their preferences, and figures out how he might best appeal to them. She, however, is new. Enzo can sense as much from yards away.[break][break]

It is written into her posture, and how she waits–drink in hand only minimally touched. So yes, Enzo has observed her just as much as she has noticed him, and when she is unable to look away quickly enough (the moment he’s been attempting to grab,) he smiles. And perhaps it’s a bit snakelike, but somehow he always manages to pass it off as something congenial.[break][break]

He carries his own drink in hand (which, for himself is often just as much a prop when he is working,) and he lifts it to tilt in her direction as silent acknowledgement before approaching. “I noticed you seem to be looking for someone, is there something that isn’t to your standards?”

[break][break]
illeana reyes   | >:3

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

Every day at The Nimbus was much the same–attend to the patrons, maintain order, keep everything running like the well-oiled machine that it was. As much as Enzo had craved this life built from no more than scraps, it could get a bit boring. Which was why fate must’ve decided he was in sore need of a deviation.[break][break]

His attention drifted away from the dossier in his hands as the large main doors pushed open. A carefully tailored smile of pleasantry had already slipped up across his face, ready to play the accommodating manager as he always did. But as lilac eyes took in who was walking through his hotel’s doors, they widened just a touch. His eyebrows climbed high, and maybe he felt a touch of something smug being to coil in his chest.[break][break]

“Well, well,” he muttered, all purring smoothness as he handed the paperwork back to his desk clerk. “Do what you have to appease them. Extra room service if need be. Their overall stay extending longer is what’s more essential here. Rearrange my other appointments for the afternoon. I do believe I’ll be quite busy.”[break][break]

That said, he moved away as she agreed and set to it. Long strides as he crossed the grand foyer, and though his smile was toothy and wide, it shouldn’t have been mistaken for warm. Of course, Kosei would know as much, annoying as that was. “What’s this? Someone’s come crawling back? Seems the mighty have fallen, but I had no idea– it didn’t even make a single headline.”[break][break]

Petty remarks cast, Enzo’s attention swiftly dropped lower to the little girl at Kosei’s side. His entire demeanor seemed to morph and shift in the time it took for him to stoop down to her level and open his arms in offering. Now he was warm and kind, given that somehow Kosei’s kid had become a veritable soft spot for the man. “Miu, my topolina! Have you gotten taller? I think that you must’ve–you’re nearly as big as my krokorok now.” Light and friendly as he spoke.[break][break]

Kosei, who?

[break][break]
Kosei Kiryu | xoxo

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]