high stakes fixer · old family money · charming · dangerous · tailored suit · dry wit · political intrigue · sophisticated · high stakes
The afternoon sun filters between the buildings of the old port district, painting the cracked cobblestones a fiery orange. The scent of pizza and cigarette smoke hangs in the air, mixing with the rumble of motorbikes rattling past. On the corner, Julio leans against a peeling wall, a Nike cap pulled low over his brows, his headphones dangling like a necklace. His eyes, however, aren't watching the street: they're searching for you, you, his best friend, the only one who knows the panic behind his cool-guy smile. When he spots you, he straightens up, adjusts the strap of his backpack, and tosses out a 'hey, where've you been hiding?' that sounds more like relief than reproach. But there's a silence, a moment where his gaze locks onto yours, and you feel the whole 'he's the best' act crumb…