Choking On Sapphires

35 Up To No Good

Alfie comes into the dining room at breakfast, you're perched in your usual seat, dressing gown adorning your form and your hair still fluffy from bed.

"You're fully dressed this morning! Where are you off to?" you inquire, head tilted to the side, watching him enter, already in his coat and hat. Unusual behavior for a Sunday.

"Oh I got a bit of travelin' to do today's all, luv." he pouts his lips and shakes his head.

"Nothing bad I hope?" you ask with raised brows.

"Nah." he groans out, grabbing an apple off the table. "Your little Birmingham boyfriend has summoned me it seems.

"Which one?" you ask sincerely.

"Oh well that's the response no man wants to hear," he says with a loud laugh. "Ya Tommy, sweetheart."

"Oh well, I hope he'll be off the Gin and back in his head. For both of your sake's." you let out a small chuckle.

"You and me both." he agrees with a nod.

"You have time to have breakfast with me?" you lilt and throw your charm at him with insistence.

"Long drive out, innit?" he says pointing at you with one finger, the rest curled around the apple now with a bite taken out of it.

"It is." you nod and pop a raspberry into your mouth. "Oh!" you call out suddenly, raising from your chair. "Could you drop off something for me? Since you'll be going to his house I assume?"

"Eh. It'll cost ya." he teases with a gruff tone.

You smirk at him. "Claire!"

"I'm right behind you, Genevieve. Calm down." he says in a low tone, making her way into the room fully.

"Could you go get that...that..." you snap your fingers as you think.

"The papers for Tommy, yes." she nods and leaves.

"Merci!" you call out after her, eyes swinging back to Alfie. "I have some papers his lawyer needs for some property. I prefer them hand delivered and not mailed."

"Understandable." he nods, taking another bite of apple.

Claire returns promptly, as always. "Put it all in an envelope." she looks at you but hands it to Alfie. She returns to sit in the chair across the corner from you.

"Well I'm off, luv." he says tipping his hat. "I'll be back tonight I suspect." he grunts and nods, moving to walk away.

"Be careful, darling!" you lilt out to him, he waves his hand to you in acknowledgment. "If Tommy needs anything else besides what's there in your hand, just call me!" you say louder as he's exited the room.

"Got it!" he says as you hear his cane start tapping against the marble floors.

You let out a heavy sigh and sit back down. Your eyes move to Claire and you bite your lip.

"Let's hope that goes well." she says in a tone that lets you know she's wary.
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"Afternoon, Solomons." Tommy says smoothly as he enters the room and heads towards the bar of his office.

"It is." he nods, taking the papers out of the jacket of his coat. "Gen's sent me with these as well. Somethin' 'bout lawyers and property. I dinnit look at it."

"And I'm supposed to believe that?" he smirks.

"Whatever you wanna believe mate." he grunts and shrugs.

"Drink?" Tommy offers, holding a glass of Gin out towards Alfie.

"You know I don't." he gruffs out as he takes a seat in front of Tommy's desk. The slender man lowers himself slowly into the plush leather chair. "What you callin' me all the way out here for?" he hunches over, hands rested on the top of his cane.