When someone talks of auctions, I am sure the first thing in mind are those animal auctions in the villages with hosts shouting out numbers and amounts in booming voices.
To us auctions were pretty sophisticated, people in masks, using gems, trinkets and art works as a font for some other dark goods out there. This wasn't the first time we were in charge of an auction. The first one had us fumbling around, it was said we were in charge but Red was in the middle of everything. It could even be seen, the guy has his own tastes.
The next one had been me trying not to get drugs and organs smuggled in. To this day it had been a great journey, now they knew what to expect once they found out we were in charge.
If they wanted some of the colorful things they'd better go for them somewhere else.
Here, you bought a piece of art and information on what you wanted, if you wanted the goods, there was another market for that as well.
The past week had been a busy one with the release of a new jewelry collection, a little skirmish at one of the clubs that we'd made a handover on, Quint had had a field day.
An upheaval which was still on going with some minor gang wanting a share of the pie it wasn't going to even see.
Blane had gotten himself busy with designing jewelry. Before, I'd thought that piece he'd made would just be the only piece I'd see, plus the pieces that he decided we needed, then the pieces he'd had made for him, Rashid, Nicole and Taffy.
Speaking of Taffy, I'd had to use Blane to get him to come over so Barnard would come home.
The guy was trying, trying his hardest to get himself through seeing a psychologist. At least he hasn't run off ...yet. It's been several months already, him taking off would mean that woman wasn't doing a thing and only wasting money.
At the moment though, I think him being around Taffy would be better than the shit he was quipping us with everyday.
"What do you think?"
"Nice!"
"Can it go on the line up?"
He'd ignored everyone, even his best friend to work on pieces for the showcase. There would be a lot of the elite, under masks but second generation heirs from all round. Having someone look at his piece and saying anything about it was all he'd set his mind to do.
"We have one day, let's see how fast those people can craft...seven pieces."
"Thanks, can I watch?"
"Sure!"
Looks like Barnard won't be going to watch the race he'd hoped he would tonight.
To tell the truth, I didn't see it until I was walking into the venue on the D-Day, the mast whose pieces had been brought to life and the guys already had stars under it.
I wanted to buy it myself though. This was the first full piece he'd designed and it had been brought to life with him overseeing. I am sure at the end of the day he'd want to see it and think back to his first showcase so I'd have to work on beating everyone in this.
**********
Pottery pieces, hard to find gems, metal plates...quite an eye opener.
"Which one do you want?"
"Unless I know what they stand for."
"You don't have to get whatever's behind it, it's more of a fun auction, me showing off my wealth and others trying to get it off my hands while giving me more wealth. "
In a way it seemed as so but I'd like to really think that he wasn't giving away so much money just to show off, the pieces looked real whether they were symbols or not.
But nothing had caught my eyes.
Coming through, the first stop was the gallery, where art pieces and jewelry good enough but hadn't made it through were placed. There had been a couple of guns as well, apparently those pieces showed just how much money someone wanted to spend on their plus one.
A blatant way to show off. I'd been glad to see those stars by that case, though I know those guys must have pulled it off somehow. It was my official debut as a self made designer, a full set took me a great deat of time. Taffy had to be my everything and nothing at all as well as Riley.
I'd pull them in at some point then away at another.
"That car..."
"Like it?"
"You're making cars now?"
"Kristoff wanted to try something new."
Yeah! And that something was a four wheel, these guys, did they think they could do everything...yeah! They absolutely could, I am freaking jealous. It seemed Kristoff wasn't just into photography... don't tell me the reason he wanted to do engineering was this, damn!
"Not interested?"
"I've driven something better, not gonna stroke his ego."
Just as brutal.
Dinner as a family for the first time. The five plus Taffy, Kaleb and I. I guess the talk went well with Quint, well enough that he himself sent the guy a ticket...even though he also had classes to attend.
To his defense, Riley refused to let him leave. My guy doesn't know half of what's going on but he's a good guardian. If you guys don't deal with your issues we'll just live under one roof until someone cracks. Someone cracked, another woke up with bruises then they shook hands and talked like grown ups.
By talking, I mean someone was told,
You hurt him and those tiny wounds multiply!
Then he was taken to the gym, and with how he exercises, Kaleb came to me and asked if he was safe. Riley's and Quint's was one that had us all dropping jaws yet they held strong. I guess those muscles don't grow on their own.
Barbeque, the goat will be moaned but it was very filling. Bottles of wine made there rounds, Quint urging everyone to eat vegetables was something I hadn't known I didn't want to see. He can be mega persuasive, and they really listen to him. Now I know why they call him mom, he and Riley's mom behave in almost the same way at times.
"Noodles for you...refrain from too much spice babe!"
"It's more appealing this way."
"Sure! Have it your way."
They really are great cooks, Kaleb joined them in this as well which was an interesting show with Quint saying he knew them more and Kaleb accepting to follow commands.
Seems he now knows he was not even close to the top when around his to be hubby's family.
"Prayer, prayer!"
Silence took over as we held hands.
"Thank you Lord for the life, for the daily bread you provide and for the family. You're the provider, protector, be with with, guide us and protect us. Cover us Lord, we pray for the forgiveness of sin and for family..."
This was new, it was great and new, something I hadn't expected ever. Love in our own way, family and life.
"Don't get drunk baby!"
"I love you!"
"Blane!"
"Do you love me?"
"I love you...a lot."
"Mushy...aagh! Where do I get my better half?"
"Obviously not by being a sitting duck."
Pretending to be drunk wouldn't be of use this time. I think I'm ready to have him and see if he can have me.