Birds Of A Feather Flock Together

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: Elijah Hamilton
Note: Hope this is ok! Let me know if you'd like me to edit anything!

never make

DECISIONS OUT OF FEAR.
ONLY OUT OF SPITE.

Slade's eyes slowly made their way around the room, absorbing the sight before him. As much as his mind worked, his expression remained neutral. Stoic. As had often been the case growing up. He'd just entered The Gilded Rose though not for the same pleasures and enjoyments most men attended for. In fact, Slade never gambled nor did he hold any other purpose for coming . . . apart from business. Word reached him that the owner of the club was offering loans to those who required it. It was after all how Slade had commenced his path to criminality and so, wished to learn more of this . . . Hamilton.

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If the information was accurate, then that was his name after all. Not a name that Slade was familiar with though the visit here today would surely change that. Noticed that he had just been standing there, someone approached and before he could ask any futile question, Slade spoke instead. "I am here to speak the owner of this establishment." His statement required nothing further other than action to bring the man. And it held no room to inquire as to why he was asking.

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Slade's unmoving position was indicative of that, as was the two people on either side of him. Two people he never entered unknown territory without. Or, any territory for that matter. One could never be too careful and now with another potential lender at hand, Slade had to ensure he was well protected. The man scurried off and Slade remained standing, gloved fingers casually placed on top of the ornately detailed cane.

[Elijah Hamilton]

♛

It was mid evening when he received the unexpected visitors. He stood on the second floor, gazing down from the balcony as the visitor requested the owner of the establishment. He knew immediately that it was not law enforcement here for their weekly bribe. There were many reasons for a man of dubious morality to darken his doorstep. He faced it without fear as he descended the stairs and straightened his jacket. Curiously, he eyed the man from his cane to his calculated expression. Yes, he’d heard something of this one.

The visit did not mean anything good. To expand, he had started offering loans of various amounts to gamblers that didn’t know when to stop. It overlapped a little with other loans, but he was rather good at getting the money back. It was all a rather new endeavor. “Welcome,” he mused as he looked over the bodyguards. He had a guard at the door, ready, but ill-equipped. He tilted his head to dismiss the hostess who lingered at the door, effectively emptying the room. “This feels as though you should have made an appointment,” he couldn’t help his snide comments despite the risk of consequences.

“How may I help you?”

### | @reuben | notes

ulla

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: Elijah Hamilton

never make

DECISIONS OUT OF FEAR.
ONLY OUT OF SPITE.

Slade was not oblivious to the man's snide remark, though he withheld his reaction to it. Slade supposed that if everything he had found out about the man were true . . . this would very much be the attitude of such an individual. Plus, it suggested that he perhaps did not fully understand who Slade was. Whether it was the nobleman's arrogance that allowed Hamilton this excuse or not, he would certainly ensure the club owner knew who Reuben Slade was by the time he left here. With the room emptied of Hamilton's staff, Slade responded to his statement.

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"That seems unnecessary," he began. "Considering you did not seem otherwise occupied." A slightly snide remark in response. Referring to the ease and speed in which Hamilton met with Slade. Of course, Reuben expected no less, but he still felt the need to comment upon it. "I am here on matters of business," he began to tell him. "If you do in fact have a designated space for such conversations as I imagine it will be longer than mere moments." They may as well become more comfortable. Sit somewhere. For Slade intended to find out what he could from the man . . . provided, their interactions went smoothly enough.

[Elijah Hamilton]

♛

He smiled politely, as one did when a besmirched noble addressed them. He wanted to be far less polite, as the besmirched noble had caused a stir that would no doubt spark gossip among the staff. His own security guard was shadowing him now as he caught onto the potential danger. It was difficult to say whether or not Elijah was afraid of the consequences that had arrived so promptly. He was too proud of what he had built. “Indeed My Lord,” his voice was snide as he gestured towards the back room. Though the club was small, the guest list never overwhelmed them. He still had space for his staff and to conduct business meetings and the like. When he did reach the door, he closed it swiftly behind them. Sound travelled in the small establishment and he did all he could to keep prying ears and eyes away.

“To what do I owe the honor my friend? Are you looking to host an event?” He was not feigning innocence. His tone simply held up to a polite ruse dripping with sarcasm while he looked him over. The bodyguards would keep peace. Elijah wondered if his guests leg injury was severe enough to give him a severe disadvantage. Searching for weak spots had always been how Elijah felt safe. A plan never hurt anything. “Business meetings between gentlemen rarely call for an escort.” He’d gotten rather far with simply taking a cut of the wild gambling that occurred under his roof. When they ran out of money and left to borrow more, he began offering instead.

He’d been well aware of the possibility of this visit.

### | @reuben | perfectperfect!!

ulla

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: Elijah Hamilton

never make

DECISIONS OUT OF FEAR.
ONLY OUT OF SPITE.

Slade's eyes remained on the man as he continued to speak with that same snide tone, questioning whether he wanted to host an event here. Surely, he was not foolish enough to believe it. And most certainly, Slade was not foolish enough to fail and recognize the sarcasm. "Do not mistake my polite conversation for friendship," he corrected him, whether sarcastic or not, Slade took the word rather seriously. And despite the snide and sarcastic remarks, this was rather polite conversation among two men in such a business . . . particularly when meeting for the first time. He commented on business meetings hardly requiring an escort and he was right about such a thing. But then, their businesses were more . . . dangerous than the average type accepted and condoned by society.

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"Then you either do not know who I am. Or do not know how I conduct business." Either response would be a disappointment, but then . . . there was his own underlying tone of being snide in his words. After all, Slade believes that those engaging in such activity, should be well aware of who he is. "But either way, you will be aware of both  before I leave here today." A promise. Or a threat. Slade was yet unsure which direction this conversation would take. "My name, is Lord Rueben Slade and it has come to my knowledge that you are involved in the business of money lending." Cutting to the chase, for Slade would not waste his time here with idle conversation.

[Elijah Hamilton]

♛

The club had naturally attracted a life of crime, to which Elijah was still new. He knew of Lord Slade and his grip on the criminal underground. It was the reason he didn’t want anyone who worked at his establishment to see him. Some feared that world for good reason. “I am,” he admitted without hesitation as he looked over his guest. “When my patrons run out of money, I offer some of my own. I am assuming by your presence here, my small reach is not satisfactory for you.”

Elijah was no stranger to getting into trouble with these kinds of people. Thieves and burglars tried to put him out of business more than once. This gangster would not succeed where they had failed. That was of course, if it was the reason for his visit.

“What would be a satisfactory arrangement that we can make together?” He asked as he sat down behind his desk and took out a thin stack of papers. He pulled his ink and quill closer so that he could update the ledger as needed before looking back up at him with a small smile. “Do you want a cut of the loans? Or are you here to shut me down entirely My Lord.”


He’d been well aware of the possibility of this visit.

### | @reuben | 

ulla

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: Elijah Hamilton

never make

DECISIONS OUT OF FEAR.
ONLY OUT OF SPITE.

Ah yes. Now this was what Slade had come here for. Talk of business, and the man before him was wise to remove all snide and sarcasm from such topics of conversation. Slade took a seat in the chair across from Hamilton, the desk between them as the club owner took out his ledger and a quill in preparation. Reuben's hand rested over the top of his customized cane, taking in his words and questions. He supposed there was one thing in particular he should answer first. "I did not come here to cease your business endeavours," he told him. He certainly hoped it would not come to that, but it was not the initial reason for him coming here.

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The information he received about this club was . . . promising, as was the man who led it. So Slade was here for information and with that, would make a proposition that was already forming in his mind. "But before I make you an offer, I would first require information about your dealings here." He paused for a moment, looking with intent at Hamilton so that he would understand his meaning, further elaborating to shred any doubt or uncertainty. "All of your dealings." Should there be more than mere gambling and money lending that occurred here. Slade made it his business to know everything about any of his associates or employees, and he rather hoped Hamilton would be the one to disclose it . . . lest he have to collect the information another way.

[Elijah Hamilton]

I WILL BURN ALL MY BRIDGES
to keep myself warm
TAGGED Reuben Slade	Rather quickly, Elijah ran through the potential benefits of partnering with the surreptitious mobster. It was difficult to think of any benefit to him other than security in knowing these altercations would not escalate. He wanted his business to grow, and to do that he needed money. It became clear that this conversation was to be civil. If not for his terrible negotiation skills and spite for losing anything, it would have been a simple enough interaction to anticipate. ”Make me an offer?” Elijah smiled a little at his words as he leaned in. His eyes roamed over him with curiosity before they lingered on his cane. Momentarily, he was distracted by the custom handle. ”It is a lounge; men come to smoke, and drink, and let off steam. They get to gamble their lives away off the books and I get a cut of the winnings. It’s a system too successful to risk with anything more complicated,” he drummed his fingers on his desk while looking over his guest with a very calculating eye. ”We are expanding, but until that is done, extra money is being lent out at a high interest rate. Most are hopeless, but there are quite a few brutes in this town willing to collect.” He wondered if he should mention the staff; mostly women he housed and employed to shelter them from street life. Many of them working the underground before. He pressed his lips together and searched for honesty. ”That’s the extent of illegal activity. Now please, are you interested in some kind of partnership? I am very curious. Here I thought you would simply demand a percentage.”

pyxis ★

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: Elijah Hamilton

never make

DECISIONS OUT OF FEAR.
ONLY OUT OF SPITE.

Slade listened as Hamilton explained his business; at least the overview of it. But there was one key point that had prompted Slade to even have this conversation. A key point that confirmed what he had heard of the man. Hamilton explained that he was expanding. Slade had heard the new money lender held promise, and it was why Slade saw opportunity beyond mere payments . . . another point that Elijah brought up. Slade remained silent, his position and expression unchanged.

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"But is it the extent of activity," Slade questioned. Hamilton said that it was the extent of illegal activity, but Slade needed to know all of what occurred in this place. Especially if there was anything that his informants missed. It had after all, not been so long since word of Hamilton had reached the nobleman's ears. "You spoke of expanding," Slade began to explain. "This is where my interest lies beyond mere payments of a percentage of your current business." Truth was, the more areas Slade was able to conduct his own business, the less of a risk. Especially with the increase of Bow Street Runners. People were starting to become paranoid.

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"Tell me, what plans of expansion do you have." Slade asked rather than offered his own experience in this area. How ambitious was Hamilton, truly. "And then, we will discuss opportunities." Assurance, that Slade was going somewhere with this but not before he learned more of Hamilton, and whether he was truly different from the others who made such attempts.

[Elijah Hamilton]

I WILL BURN ALL MY BRIDGES
to keep myself warm
TAGGED Reuben Slade	“As I said, that is the extent of the illegal activity.” It was not a lie, but divulging the business of his employees was not something he felt he needed to do. He wasn’t sure what this new face had his hands in. The streets of London were dangerous and filled with poor intentions. A nobleman who could travel with such minimal security was not a man to be toyed with, which was something that Elijah understood. He did not enjoy having him in his office, demanding answers. It was growing rather tiresome. “This is almost an honest business, My Lord. Nearly,” he chuckled as he set took a roll of parchment off the floor and laid it across the desk. “When I say I am going to expand, I mean I will purchase these three properties and demolish them,” he grabbed his pen, more than happy to share this information. Before the gambling got out of control this had truly been a place he intended to be the best gentlemen’s club in all of high society. “We will have more room for gambling tables of course, back here… We will be adding a stage for the band along with two more bars and a cigar room. Upstairs, we will have rooms to rent for privately. That is my plan,” he smiled a little as he looked back up at his ‘new friend’. “As for the loans I charge forty percent—they aren’t large loans and everyone expects to pay it back,” he laughed without humor. “But men are truly idiots,” he eyed him curiously as he wasn’t sure what any kind of partnership would do for him. He didn't know much about him at all other than he had an ominous reputation. They dealt with the same people; brushed shoulders he was sure.

pyxis ★

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: Elijah Hamilton

never make

DECISIONS OUT OF FEAR.
ONLY OUT OF SPITE.

There was something that Elijah was not telling him. Well, of course there was a great deal he was not telling him. But there was something in particular. Slade was determined to find out, if not in this meeting, then certainly in the near future. Particularly if they were in fact, to do any sort of business together. Shame though. That it created an extra step for Slade rather than the man just telling him. Never the less, he withheld any reaction, remaining stoic as Hamilton opened a roll of parchment and lay it before them. Slade's gaze briefly fell to it for a few seconds, already committing it to memory -- not that his brain often chose what to commit to memory and what not to -- as he looked back at Hamilton, listening to him explain his plan. Slade still, said nothing. One side of his lips twitched in a curved smile, lasting a mere second though, it was there when Elijah spoke of how men were truly idiots.

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"Fortunately, that idiocy can be quite profitable." For men like them. Though Hamilton's rise to profit was indeed interesting, considering he was of no high rank. It meant that he was resourceful, a promising trait in a businessman. "Your plan is ambitious," he told him, words not meant to be an insult nor flattery. It was mere fact, surely, that the purchase of 3 new buildings to expand upon this current one was, indeed ambitious. "I have the means to support this, expansion of yours," he began to tell him. "In far more an expedited time." Than perhaps what Hamilton may have anticipated. "I am always looking for new associates, Mr. Hamilton. But I do not make offers to those who do not hold promise." Another fact. Slade was not so free in giving compliments.

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"I will of course own part of the business, and with that, comes access to my own resources." Clients of whom he could send here should they be too afraid to travel. Money of course. Trusted employees who were of the utmost discretion, especially when it comes to the matter of collection. "I have been in this business for many years and should you have any doubt of my, capabilities, I encourage you to ask around and learn of it yourself." He paused for a moment, eyes continuing to lock with the businessman before him. "That, is my offer to you," he said, returning to his initial statement of being willing to make the man an offer. "And the only one I will make." The details could of course be decided . . . even negotiated, but the premise of it was offered, and Slade waited for a response, even if it was the requirement for Hamilton to have time to decide. 

[Elijah Hamilton]

I WILL BURN ALL MY BRIDGES
to keep myself warm
TAGGED Reuben Slade	Elijah was nothing without his ambition. Men like him, born with little had to do whatever it took to keep their head above water and in a place above the spit and shit of the men above. It was a dance that was more difficult than it could ever appear, otherwise you have already lost. He had the confidence to gain the wealth and connections he needed to build his dream. It took quite a bit of power to hold back from immediate acceptance of the proposal, as it came from the lips of a potential snake. Who knew what he would ask for? If Elijah worked out a deal like that, he would keep his borrower or ‘partner’ on a tight leash. He had no intention on being kept on a leash. He carefully rolled the parchment back up and grinned at him. “That’s an intriguing offer,” he said after a moment of thought. True thought; as he’d never been one to trust. He was suspicious of the offer, though he had not heard of bad professional dealings with Lord Reuben Slade. The ones he dealt with had to be good at keeping their business to themselves. Money lenders were all the same however. They talked, and talked and talked—unable to fix their own lives so they rejoiced to tear down others. It made for excellent intel. He would need to do his own research now; as he truly hadn’t heard enough. That was a good sign. ”You know how difficult it is to work in the shadows of this town. I didn’t get to where I am with hasty decisions...” though, it seemed that Lord Slade expected this. ”However, I am curious about the terms. Not just the amount, though it matters greatly, but also regarding your business. Do you intend to conduct business under my roof?” he didn’t like the idea of there being more than one boss around. Investment was one thing, but he was catering to gentlemen. Naturally, the idea of shrouding the club in blatant controversy was also something he wanted to avoid.

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: Elijah Hamilton

never make

DECISIONS OUT OF FEAR.
ONLY OUT OF SPITE.

Hamilton stated that it was an intriguing offer and that he would not make a decision in haste. Then further inquiring as to whether Rueben intended to conduct his own business there. There was no need to lie about such things. For it was not an unreasonable assumption. "If necessary." Slade much rather handle all larger business matters on his own owned property, but having these hubs helped when it came to limiting travel.

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After all, he had his own people to deal with those matters, where it would not always require Rueben himself to make an appearance. "Do not keep me waiting too long for an answer Mister Hamilton," Rueben told him. Business deals had an expiration date for the one making them would not wait indefinitely for an answer. "For offers have an expiration date, as I am certain you well know in this business." Everything, had time constraints. And Rueben would not appreciate it if he would have to come down again because he had not heard from Elijah; Slade loathed to waste his time.

[Elijah Hamilton]

I WILL BURN ALL MY BRIDGES
to keep myself warm
TAGGED Reuben Slade note: im sorry for how late this is!!	True, it was rude to waste time. He was unlikely to refuse the new and potentially prosperous relationship opportunity. London was a large beast and difficult to tackle with a couple of thugs, a handful of runaway ladies and a club. Reuben had connections and resources that Elijah hadn’t considered. Networking in the criminal underground was less simple than networking among lords of the gab. He traced the parchment where his blueprint was drawn before setting it aside and looking up at Reuben with a Cheshire grin. He was mostly entertained by the thought of annoying hm. Reuben was already so stern, with a seriousness about him Elijah instinctively wondered if he could break after a round or two. In a friendly manner, of course. “Don’t worry,” he urged as he stood. So much time, work and effort went into building the club. Every detail, from the deep burgundy walls to the wooden detailing on every fireplace, counter, rail and column was chosen by him. It was his home, and allowing someone else to own even a fraction, or to be in debt was a true risk. Rueben had his own reputation, but the reputation didn’t scare Elijah. What concerned him were the things he didn’t hear. It wasn’t as if sinister criminals shared all of their details. There were lives he was protecting here. “I will not leave you waiting for long,” it was not his intention. “I need to know if you have any reputable integrity. I’d like to believe you didn’t rise above other gangs through blunt force and betrayal but I need to know for myself before I find myself in debt to you,” his smile was still in place as he reached out his hand to shake his. “I appreciate meeting you face to face. This could be the beginning of something quite profitable for both of us,”