Shoot Your Shot

Chapter 4

'Shit.' The snake looked up at him quickly and with a lot of confusion about the sound he'd just made, and he cursed himself for finding it funny. It was a lame joke, but of course it was it was a mathematics joke. Clearing his throat, he looked back down at the file and thought everything over. He may be a bit biased from the joke itself, but the man didn't seem too terrible and there was something about him. Something... appealing about him, and not just on paper. Physically, he was definitely attractive, and built well, and while his voice wasn't what Arackniss had imagined he'd enjoy, he found he did like listening to the man talk. On paper, he was also a very good asset to have; an inventor and engineer, genius with skills ranging from simple architecture to biochemical engineering. A ridiculous find for anyone normally, and the man had come to them. Of course, he wouldn't be where he was if he didn't question it, and he did have a lot of questions. "So, with your wrap sheet, you have to know that I am curious about why you thought coming here was the best course of action for you. What is it that you think you can help us with?" He watched the snake perk up and restrained a smile.

"Well, you have the file on me, so I'm sure you know what I've been doing this entire time." He relaxed in the chair and shrugged. "I'm tired of dealing in martial spouts. I'm not married, I'm not even seeing someone, so why should I lock myself in to nothing but solving other peoples martial problems?" Arackniss tilted his head a bit at the answer. "And if you're going to upgrade, you might as well go all the way up. The Family is one of the largest organizations in Hell, just shy of Lucifer's own, and has more success than others, clearly. The only deduction you could ever draw from that is that the Family is filled with competent people." He was buttering him up, he could see that. Glancing back down at the file, he decided that playing coy was best for this particular blessing. He could pretend like he's thinking on it more and let the man sit on it for the next few days before saying yes. Because, of course, he already had a thought on what he would have the man do first. The door swung open and the cellar spider, one of the runners, leaned in.

"Boss,"

"Did you just open my door without knocking? Or even, being told that you could come in?" He reminded himself that there was a guest and not to blow up, but he had rules and anyone who broke them should know better. Especially when everyone knew them and the Runners were the ones who had to follow them the most. "Are my rules difficult for you, Screza?" He watched the realization settle in the arachnids eyes as he looked down at the door, and then came the fear.

"N-no Boss. Not at all."

"So why didn't you follow them? He followed them, and he doesn't even work here." Crossing his arms, he watched the man flounder. "A stranger can follow my rules, but someone whose been here for years and has known me for so long, you can't even follow them. Now, that's just upsetting." He leaned back in the chair and shook his head, waiting for the man to break. And as if on queue, he did.

"Boss, I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention. I have no excuses." The daddy long-legs cried as he seemed to shrink and Arackniss shook his head, rolling his eyes.

"Just don't forget next time, otherwise I'm gonna put a fuckin' sign outside my door for those too." Waving the man over he gave him an expectant look. "Well? What are you here for in such a damn hurry?" The man jumped and handed him a file.

"Your father, I mean the Don, needs your signature for this." Rolling his eyes, he snatched the file away and flipped it open. What poor timing this man had to interrupt a meeting for a file signature. "It's for Valentino." Pursing his lips, he read over the page.

"I'm glad you're so willing to help those with bad eye-sight, Screza." The man looked confused.

"But... you don't have bad eye-sight sir. Your eye-sights better than mine."