The Gig [Finished]

[accalia]

"It's not entirely unsurprising, he's not the only one on your payroll." Tony says, implying that there are more women acting the man's role in Govanni's pay.

[yamikuronue]

Giovanni waves a hand. "None so ruthless as that."

A moment later, he adds, "Of course, she can't stay, now that we know. We're civilized folks. This is no place for a woman, especially a young woman. Still, she has gumption. I have to give her that."

[accalia]

"Can't stay? Huh. I guess that means I'm out on the same grounds, and I'm pretty sure.... at least three of your bodyguards. I don't have confirmation on them of course, but when you're one yourself you learn to spot the tells, and i'm pretty sure."

Yep. here we go. Tony's stepped out of the frying pan. time to see how much fire there actually is.

[yamikuronue]

Giovanni frowns, holding up a hand. "I didn't hear that," he says, sternly. "I know you are an intelligent man. You certainly don't want to convince me that you are of no use to me, so soon after your threats to my organization. This is your only warning."

[accalia]

"So the rules only apply when you say they apply." Tony scoffs "I should have expected that. Vic's a good man. He's never disappointed you before, why have things changed now that he has been exonerated? The only thing that's changed is your knowledge, not his work."

[yamikuronue]

"Victoria is a woman. She may be a capable, ruthless, dependable woman, but she is still meant for gentler things than this life. It would be the height of rudeness and depravity to inflict upon her the kind of things I would inflict upon my men." Giovanni strokes his chin, musing as he thinks the matter over: "Still, I would like to find some use for her. Perhaps as a companion and guard to my daughter."

[accalia]

The temperature drops in the room, Tony stands and stalks towards Giovanni until he is face to face with the man. Tony's tone is cold, full of suppressed rage and menace. Tony is royally pissed right now, but ht's got a grip on it, it's tight, controlled.

"Vic is a man, He says he is so he is. I am the same, I don't care that life didn't give me a penis to waggle, that doesn't change the fact that I am a man and I will wipe the floor with any man you came to name.  Ask Alex what he is, who he is, I'll bet you get the same answer. We are MEN. And we're better men than most who are men simply because they were born with a penis between their legs. You've seen this in Vic before, You see it in me, you see it in Alex and his team."

Tony pushes past Giovanni and walks towards the door, the force of his passing spinning Giovanni to face the door as well.

"You have your proof, Vic is cleared, and you have a lot to think about. Good day to you"

Tony grabs the door handle, opening it and standing aside to allow Giovanni to exit first. Tony is clearly angry enough to have gut punched Giovanni and walked away smiling, but aside from the shoulder nudge as he stormed past, which Tony has probably not even noticed, Tony has refrained from so much as touching Giovanni, and he hasn't actually threatened Giovanni, he's certainly offered to fight Giovanni, but it was pretty clear that the fight was Giovanni's to call if he wanted to.

[yamikuronue]

Giovanni looks Tony over, then, without another word, exits the room, the temperature almost physically dropping in his wake.

He stops when the hallway widens out into the storefront, taking in the scene before him. Three men stand between the front windows and the micro-drama playing out toward the back, shielding it from view of any passers-by or would-be patrons (though the shop seems to have emptied); a fourth stands near the corner, a smirk on his face, his gun in Vic's mouth as the boy kneels before him, pale, eyes wide. He doesn't seem to have noticed them, as Giovanni opens his mouth to speak...

[accalia]

Tony doesn't wait, he doesn't waste time with words, he just starts running, shouldering Giovanni out of the way, going for the man with his gun in Vic's mouth. Tony is silent, all energy focused on the running, his head low, clearly intending to slam shoulder first into the man's gut.

[yamikuronue]

Giovanni's words register just before Tony connects with the man: "Do let my lieutenant go. I prefer him in one piece."

Then Tony slams into the man, knocking him aside, and the roar of a gunshot fills his ears as they land.

[accalia]

Tony flips as he impacts, landing on the man's chest, his hands scrabbling for the gun, slamming the wrist on the ground to make the hand let go of the gun. Once that happens he looks around to see what happened with the shot, who got hit?

[yamikuronue]

At first glance he can't see any sign of blood. But then, Vic's on the ground.

"I was just messing with him!" protests the tackled thug.

Giovanni's reply is ice-cold: "What is the first rule of gunmanship?"

[accalia]

"Never point a gun at something you are not prepared to destroy." The answer falls out of Tony's mouth by rote, Tony being far too occupied with trying to assess the situation for rational thought. Where did the bullet go, and why does his gut feel.... warm? Tony tries to focus on Vic, but the situation's too hard to focus on... Vic, is Vic okay?

[yamikuronue]

"I was just..." the guy begins again, but something silences him.

Then someone is wrapping their arm around Tony's shoulders, trying to get under his arms, give him a lift up. A moment later and someone's grabbing at his legs. "Get him to Doc," says Giovanni. Wait, get who? Is Vic okay?

[accalia]

Tony is confused, he knows something's wrong but he feels fine. 'Vic, it's got to be Vic. Vic's hurt. Why are they carrying me? My stomach's red... oh...' And that's when the pain finally hits Tony. He doesn't scream, but the whimper of pain makes it pretty damn clear that he's now aware of where the bullet went. Tony passes out as they pick him fully off the ground, that's probably a blessing all things considered.