The store appeared to be sparsely occupied by any other customers, though even if there were more people in the store it would still not appear otherwise. It was a wide open floor plan with massive arched windows lining either side of the main floor with at least a dozen different jewelry cases, all perched on white, marble tables and illuminated from within. Each counter had a salesclerk ready to serve and as soon as they all collectively glanced up at Stasi's entry, they all began clambering to serve her in particular.
The Nikitins, being of rich stock, all liked to spend money on the finer things in life. Everything they wore was name brand and they were always decked to the nines. They were recognized as endowed patrons at not only this particular jewelry store, but many others across the city. Whoever had the opportunity to cater to a Nikitin often left the experience with a fat commission on the sale.
Stasi hardly minded the eager floundering of the salesclerks and made a beeline for a counter at the back corner of the floor that Stasi had known from previous visits had just what she was looking for.
An older woman was perched at the counter and, unlike the rest of the staff, greeted Stasi and Spider with polite calm.
"Welcome in. Is there anything you are looking for in particular, Miss Nikitin?" The woman asked, clearly recognizing Stasi as all her colleagues did, but not as young and eager as the rest of them.
"I am." Stasi nodded as she turned just enoughto Spider to grab him by the sleeve and pull him forward to her side. She wrapped her fingers around his wrist, her hand not quite fitting around, and held it up to the woman. With her other hand, she pointed to a bracelet in the case. "I want to get two of those, one has to be big enough to fit around his wrist. Also, does it come in gold? I prefer gold."
The bracelet Stasi was pointing to was a delicate, small chain that held two interlocking circles with the Tiffany & Co. branding. It was a simple piece, definitely something that Stasi would consider understated for herself, but in a way it's subdued appearance reminded her of Spider. He definitely was a sharp dresser, but there was something refined in the way he styled himself that wasn't as gaudy as the rest of the Nikitin family. He was never without some form of jewelry, but he remained tasteful.
Stasi looked up at Spider, grinning with all teeth.
"I thought since you've been working with me for a month and haven't begged for your old position back, you're probably sticking around. I have to let others know you're mine now." She said. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Spider followed Stasi in at her heels, when some of the perky salespeople approached too eagerly, Spider shot them a mean glare. Usually approaching him from his right side was intimidating enough, as it was the side that was badly burned. When Stasi pulled him forward, he stumbled a bit with surprise. That part he wasn’t used to yet, she was always touching him or trying to touch him. A stark contrast from Ania, who would recoil if their elbows accidentally grazed each other.
“Why don’t you just brand me?” Spider asked sardonically, with a huff of laughter. He wasn’t disappointed though, he liked jewelry. He leaned forward to look into the display case, trying to see what Stasi was getting for them. “You’re sure about that chain?” He asked Stasi, nodding at the bracelet.
"Harhar," Stasi gave a roll of her eyes at Spider's initial suggestion, though she still held his arm. She returned her gaze to the bracelet and let out a thoughtful sound. "Why? You don't like it?" She asked him. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“I just think a bigger chain would look better. On me, at least.” Spider said, not arguing in any capacity about receiving a matching bracelet; just that it was to his tastes. “We could keep the same style, those two connecting circles, on a bigger chain. If it pleases the princess, of course.” Spider suggested, offering Stasi a grin; mild but playful.
Stasi looked up to the salesclerk and quirked a brow and nodded towards Spider, as if to reiterate the question or say 'well, do you?'
The woman acknowledged the look by offering a smile and a dip of her head.
"We can figure something out, I'm sure." She said before turning her back on the duo and ducking down to one of the locked drawers lining the inside of the counter.
While she looked for what Stasi and Spider requested, Stasi went to lean on the counter and looked down at his wrist. She turned it over in her palm to look over the rings dotting his knuckles.
"Is this one your favorite?" She asked, tapping the ring on Spider's pinky. "Was it a gift or did you buy it yourself?" _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Spider looked at Canefield’s ring thoughtfully, deciding how to answer. Spider sat by Canefield’s side when he died, and still some time after. When coroners came to take his body, Spider was still holding his hand weakly, both stained and sticky with blood. When they pulled him away, the ring slipped off his finger and stayed in Spiders palm; he’d had it ever since.
“It is like a gift.” Spider answered vaguely, unsure if that was the right way to think of it.
Spider released a boisterous laugh, a bit incredulous at the notion of Canefield being his lover in this equation. Canefield would’ve liked it, he would’ve laughed just as hard and would launch a quip in return.
“No, not a lover. A friend, a peer. He worked for your family before I did. He was like my brother, I guess.” Spider explained. It was in Spiders nature to be reserved and keep things to himself, but it wasn’t a secret. Stasi could ask anyone about Canefield, anyone who was alive then anyways.
The past tense Spider used told Stasi all she needed to know. Not many people left the Nikitin crime family, most people, if they didn’t die young, stayed in the family’s employ until they were old and shriveled. To remain loyal to the Nikitins for years was to be provided well beyond the normal means. Even Ace had stayed with the Nikitins until a ripe old age, only leaving after he married a pretty young thing.
“Hmm, he must have been the brother with taste then.” Stasi joked about the ring, as it was usually the “loudest” of all the jewelry Spider wore. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
Spider laughed again, which it was already a rarity for him to laugh so loud once, let alone a second time. He couldn’t help it though, Canefield would’ve liked it; loved it even. He would’ve liked Stasi, and he would’ve been a better fit for her than he was, he could’ve been. Since he was meant to be her father’s personal guard, but he died when Ivan was still a baby.
“He would’ve agreed with that sentiment for sure. I actually thought it was the ugly ring in his collection.” He said, looking at it again.
“Well that’s because you lack taste. It’s a good ring, especially good for you.” Stasi smiled as she raised a finger to point at his face. “It goes well with your eyes.” _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“Does it?” Spider asked, a curious but slight head tilt at the statement. Spider saw his scars everyday, but he did not notice anything else about himself. Not the smoky ash color of his hair, not his aquiline nose, or the color of his eyes. He considered this and tried to think, were they brown? Grey? He couldn’t remember the color of his eyes, couldn’t remember the color of his parents eyes either.
Stasi let out a huff of laughter from her nose as Spider tilted his head, so uncharacteristically of him. She nodded, releasing her grip on Spider’s arm to reach up and shove back a section of hair that fell into his face, as if to show himself his eyes.
“Yes. They’re different shades of green, but green nonetheless.” She explained just as the salesclerk came back over with two light blue boxes.
In one was the bracelet the same as in the case but in a white gold that would surely look stunning on Stasi’s pale wrist. In the other was another bracelet, tailored as Stasi and Spider had requested with a heavier chain that wouldn’t be instantly dwarfed by his size but still joined together with the two joined circles.
“Are these to your liking, Miss Nikitin?” The woman asked, clearly knowing who her patrons were but not nearly as foolish as her colleagues to be tripping over herself.
Stasi looked down at the bracelets and then looked up to Spider.
“So? Does that work for you?” She asked. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
“They’re perfect, just what I was picturing.” Spider nodded with approval after looking over the pieces. “Does it come out of my pay?” He asked Stasi then, a joke.
"I don't need your chump change." Stasi teased back as she looked to the woman behind the counter. "Charge it to our account please." She said before reaching into her pocket to pull out her wallet, only to take out a not-so-small wad of cash that she then tucked into the woman's palm.
The woman gave a little bob of her head and tucked the money away before closing up the boxes and neatly stacking them into a little blue bag.
"It was a pleasure, Miss Nikitin. We appreciate your patronage, as always." She dipped her head again as she handed the bag into Stasi's waiting hand. _________________ Butts n' butts n' butts n' butts.
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