sometimes the king is a woman [reed]

"I would say you can get 'em next week, but we all know you're too slow to actually win anything, Finn," Tara called with a grin which resulted in a rude gesture being thrown in her direction. She gave it right back and laughed, her green eyes gleaming with light from the bonfire, the flames dancing magically in deep blues and royal purples for her. Her colors, her win tonight. And she had the sack of coins to prove it.

Tara Kingsley, known as Ace in these circles, had been preparing for this race for the past month. Carefully tweaking and testing new charms, practicing new maneuvers, studying the course. She had really wanted the win. And just like anything she really wanted, she got, but not after a lot of hard work, effort, and a few little dirty tricks she had up her sleeve. After all, there weren't many rules in speed racing and she had used that to her advantage.

The night was dark, the hour was late, and Tara was loving every second of it. The adrenaline from the race and the thrill of the win were still pumping through her. Dressed in black leather pants that fit her like a glove, a royal blue crop top that showed off her midriff and a black leather jacket that had as many Ace pins as wins to her name (which were a lot) lined up across the back, she slid up to the bar and gave the burly man behind it a smile. "Winner gets free drinks, right?" she teased and the man rolled his eyes at her as she propped her arm on the bar top of the counter someone always set up no matter where the race was held.

@Reed Stringfellow

If it was slightly illegal (or very illegal), exclusive, or there were galleons to be made, Reed was interested. And every so often, the dark wizard stumbled upon something that checked every box. The speed broom racing was nitty-gritty, it was mean and fast-paced, and most of all, there was a lot of gambling. And Reed loved it. Especially on nights like tonight, when the witch he bet on killed the competition, and he went home twenty galleons richer.

The race had ended, and the after-party had begun, and even though Reed was dressed a whole lot more professionally than most of the attendees, he had no plans to leave early. Moving from the betting grounds to the makeshift bar Reed inspected what was on the table behind and easily picked out the most expensive bottle offered.

Unbuttoning the jacket of his enchanted Marchesi suit, Reed pulled out the pouch of galleons he'd just collected and set in on spending some of them. "Her drinks are on me," The wizard offered with a nod to the bartender. Not because he was invited, but because he took it upon himself, Reed slid down the bar toward where Ace had pulled up a seat and gave her a wolfish grin. She looked fit on the back of a broom but even better in person. "You won me a lot of galleons tonight; it's the least I can do."

Tara huffed a sigh at the presumptive statement, giving a look to Geoff behind the bar, a retort and a smart dismissal on the very tip of her tongue as she turned her head to look at the man who presumed she would need someone to pay for her drinks. Even though she had just asked for them for free. The words died on her tongue as she got a look at him.. and then took a second to take him in, her eyes glancing up and then down, a smirk playing about her lips. "Well, by all means then, he's paying. Give me your very best, Geoff," she said without looking away from the man with the piercing blue eyes.

The dark ink covering his skin juxtaposed with the very expensive looking suit he was wearing made her grin. "Did you come straight here from a finance meeting?" she asked slyly as she noticed the fine stitching on the suit, the clean lines, the fabric. Expensive. Her brother Niles had equally expensive tastes. And so did she, when she wasn't slumming it with the other speed racers. Then again, she liked the variety.

"So you bet on me, did you?" she asked as she leaned against the bar and tilted her head slightly so that her dark hair fell over her shoulder. "And how'd you know I was the only one worth placing money on?"

was smug when she accepted his offer, and even more so at the demanding way she had done so. "I'll have what the lady is having, then." The wizard said to the bartender, his eyes locked with hers. If they were drinking, then, of course, they would be drinking only the very best. He'd noticed the way her eyes ran over him greedily, and since that was what he hoped for, Reed was careful not to interrupt the show as he passed her drink down to her. "Did you come straight here from a finance meeting?" She had asked him, and Reed brushed it off with a laugh and a blatant, mysterious non-answer. "Funny," He replied, holding his drink up as a toast.

"I did," Reed answered before bringing his cup to his lips and taking the first sip. It wasn't top shelf, but he hadn't expected it to be. Honestly, he was surprised they weren't drinking straight from the bottle, though the red solo cup wasn't a far cry from it. Expensive tastes aside, Reed hated the way the plastic crinkled under his fingertips.

A part of him wanted to tell her that he had seen a few of her races and that he'd picked up on the way she kicked out the tail of her broom in the last corner to steal the updraft from her opponents, but he didn't. Instead, he took another quiet drink from his cup and shrugged. "It is my job to know." He was being purposefully vague now and amusing himself endlessly. "Did you know they had you up against ten to one odds? Hmm, what a spread." How the bookie had believed he'd make money off of the other racer, Reed would never know. Ace was lightning fast, she had a killer broom, and she was a lock if she got the holeshot.

"I wonder why they would do that?" Reed said innocently, but the wicked look on his face suggested something else, and he wondered if she got part of the take. It wouldn't have been legal, but it wasn't as if these events were ministry sanctioned.

Geoff was less than impressed, poured their drinks, and slid the plastic cups across the scratched bar top to them. Tara took hers and  tapped it against his before taking a drink, the alcohol burning merrily down her throat. She grinned at him over the rim of the cheap plastic cup. He had come from a finance meeting? Where the hell did he get the balls to even show up here. She couldn't help but be intrigued.

"So you needed to come get a thrill after crunching numbers in an office all day, is that what it is?" she asked, painting the most boring picture she could imagine just to see what he would say. He was a mystery this one and Tara always loved a good mystery. Then again.. mysteries could be dangerous. She narrowed her gaze. "Your job? How so?" What the hell did that even mean. She was almost flattered, but there was an edge of something else there too that made her pause. A predator recognizing another predator. Tara took another sip as he mentioned the odds, playing it cool, just as she had every other time someone had brought it up. "Guess they don't take me too seriously," she quipped and then grinned. "That'll change after tonight."

Or maybe not. But that was for her to decide. "No one said they were smart," she said with a light shrug even though she noticed that gleam in his eye and wondered if he had smartened up to what even racer veterans hadn't caught on to yet. Yes, dangerous indeed.

Reed was far from lazy when it came to women, but he also enjoys the efficiency of chasing after witches he knew would be putty in his hands. And he prided himself on being able to tell them apart relatively quickly. He'd only been sitting next to her for two minutes, but already Reed understood that Ace was not going to be easily swayed. She had a fire about her, it was going to be a fight, and he was up to the challenge. "A number cruncher? Please," Reed scoffed at the idea as he set the cup back on the bar, his big gold rings on display. "Check the label; sweetheart, desk jockeys don't fit in Marchesi suits."

Spotting profitable investments had been a part of Reed's job description for a very long time. In the Import/Export office, he looked for ways to increase tax revenue; in Knockturn Alley, he found innovative ways to screw people out of their hard-earned sickles; it was practically second nature by now. And it was easy to see that Ace was a good investment, especially at those odds. "Maybe, or maybe they are fattening the pot for something more sinister." Reed turned slightly, his arm on the bar and his back pressed up against it so that he could look out at the crowd gathered around the bonfire and the modified broomsticks hovering in a line on the display.

"I'd be careful who you let work on your broom if I was you." While it wasn't a threat, and Reed had already made his galleons off of Ace, it certainly sounded like one. And the way the wizard turned to give her a devilish smirk before downing the rest of his glass only made it worse.

She tried not to smile as he practically waved his wealth right in front of her eyes. As if she would be impressed by that sort of display. “Ohh, Marchesi?” she said though, her eyes slightly widened, her lips slightly parted almost as if in shock. Then she batted her eyelashes at him a few times before she grinned. “I’m sure that works on most girls so I don’t blame you at all, sweetheart, but I’ve got my own bag of galleons so I’m not impressed by the label.” She patted her own bag of money she had won on her hip and took another sip. Coming from a family like the Kingsleys, she didn’t even do this for the money really, she didn’t need it. So this bloke in his designer suits and flashy rings was almost like any other well to do son of one of her fathers friends, trying to compensate for their small package or lack of brains with their wealth.

Almost.

She watched him as he turned to survey the crowd and she found herself turning as well, her mind working quickly, trying to decipher his vague comments. She hated to admit, even if it was just to herself, that she hadn’t a clue what he meant. It rankled her, but she tried not to show it. “Something more sinister?” she scoffed instead. “The corporate life too boring for you so you have to come here and imagine up things that aren’t actually happening?”

But his next words had her narrowing her gaze again, her boots scraping against the gravel as she turned her whole body back to look at him, straightening. “And what the hell does that mean?” she demanded. Not that she ever would. Not that she let anyone else but her touch her broom, but she didn’t even know if he knew that. Or maybe he did and that’s what he was insinuating. She didn’t particularly like that look on his face or what felt like a thinly veiled threat. And he was definitely killing her winning vibe. How fucking rude.

It didn't matter that Ace had said, quite plainly, that she wasn't impressed by his suit because Reed didn't believe it for a second. Rich or poor, smart or dumb, everyone was impressed by wealth. Those who didn't have it wanted it, and those who already had it, always wanted more. "A bag of galleons and wants her drinks for free, hmm." A witch after his own heart, it appeared.

Reed turned toward the crowd, his musings coming off vaguely menacing, and felt inclined to smirk at her reaction. She might have been the king of this little hill, but Reed had already figured out a weakness, and that felt like a win to him. Little by little, he intended to chip away at her armor until she agreed to go home with him. "It is a pretty standard scheme. Put the odds against you, so anyone who bets makes a killing, and then they run off and tell their friends, and pretty soon, everyone is betting on a sure thing." Reed waved his fingers in the air between them as he wove a story for her.

"And then, once every chump and their mum have bet their last sickle, you change the rules, take out the sure thing, and the house wins." Reed returned to his solo cup and tilted it back. He let the smokey flavor burn the back of his throat for as long as he could stand before downing it.

"So tell me, Ace, are you a sure thing?"

"I made lots of people plenty of money tonight," Tara said with a pointed look at him and then flicked a few strands of her hair over her shoulder. "I think they can afford a few drinks on the house." She turned to smile at Geoff behind the bar top and blinked up at him sweetly. "Right Geoff," he muttered a curse and she replied with a sarcastic "love you too."

And while the banter felt light and freeing, there was something.. dangerous about the man in the Marchesi suit and Tara would be a fool not to listen to that instinct. As much as she wanted to brush him off as just another well-to-do heir bored of his wealth and women and looking for a thrill, there was something about him that made her pause. And besides that, he was playing a risky game.

She narrowed her eyes, her lips flattened into a straight line. Of course, she was a sure fucking thing. But she wanted to know what his game was first. "And if you're in on this little scheme, why even mention it to me?" she asked, her tone icy. "You think I don't know what sorts of games go on in these rings?" Her left brow rose with the insinuation. He thought he could waltz in here in one night and know more about this game than she did. Maybe he was a chump after all.

Ace spoke to the bartender made Reed grin; she had bravado, and he liked that about her. Not even his thinly veiled threats seemed to really shake her. They pissed her off, but as Reed was quite familiar with, being worried and angry was not the same. She must have been doing these races a long time, with how skilled she was, and Reed bet he was far from the first man in a suit to approach her. However, he had some tricks up his exquisitely tailored sleeves that he was certain would make him stand out from the rest.

"I never said that I was, and it is quite rude to make such accusations." Reed locked eyes as he informed her of her mistakes. He was trying to rile her up, he liked his witches with a bit of fire, but he wasn't trying to implicate himself in an actual crime. If it was truly happening in the ring tonight, he didn't know about it, and even if he did, Reed wouldn't have been involved. He could stomach many things, but fixing the book was something he wouldn't touch with a ten-foot wand.

"Good to know you don't take any shit." Instead of going further down this train of thought, Reed changed gears and gave her a charismatic grin. Finishing his drink, Reed stood up from the makeshift stool, pulled two galleons—a lot more than he owed— from his suit coat, and tossed them on the counter. Turning to Tara, he checked the expensive timepiece on his wrist and nodded. "I would not stay for the after-party if I was you."

The sounds of Aurors apparating in the distance rippled through the night air, and within seconds racers and fans alike were starting to scatter. They began heading for portkeys that were now blocked by the ministry and realizing wards were inhibiting most Apparition attempts. Most. Reed, as an employee of the British Ministry, was still fully able to apparate. Seeing the bartender disapparate only to land right back where he started, Reed turned a knowing smile to Ace and held his hand out. If she was bold enough, he could get her out of here.

Tara narrowed her gaze at the man in the suit, a muscle ticking in her jaw. If she didn't know better, she'd say he was riling her on purpose and even knowing that didn't stop the flames from burning as she snapped back at him. "Then don't make thinly veiled threats and expect me to roll over like a dog just because you come up with your Marchesi suits and fat rings on your fingers," she said almost spitting. She almost didn't know what was worse. Chumps who thought they had swagger, flashing their wealth like that meant anything to her, or guys like this who actually had swagger and wealth, who made her want to throttle them.

"Yeah and don't you forget it," she threw back at him as she sipped the last of her drink and turned to ask Geoff for another. The bartender was already sliding her another one and Tara winked at him, grinning. She watched over the rim of her cup as the man in the Marchesi paid, left an outrageous tip, and checked his watch while she settled in her elbow against the bar, a snarky quip on the tip of her tongue before she frowned at him. "And what's that supposed to me--"

She stopped short as shouts sounded and she stood up straighter. Shit. She knew what that meant and she instinctively grabbed her wand to apparate before remembering. Shit, they had already set up a parameter. She couldn't leave. Could she book it on foot? There was no way she was getting caught up in this. She started, ready to take some kind of action even though she didn't know exactly what, when he extended a hand. She glanced between his big hand and his cunning gaze and she knew in that moment that he was more than he seemed, but she didn't have time to question it now. She slapped her hand into his, not gentle at all, but then remembered something. "My broom," she gasped, looking toward her prize possession that she had worked on exclusively, experimenting with new charms and enhancements.

But she was too far away and she was swirling into nothingness a moment later as he apparated her with him.

Reed had known about the raid for the last two days; it was honestly a wonder that no one in the broom racing world had gotten wind; the Ministry being one giant sieve and all. Reed worked in the Import and Export office, which had absolutely nothing to do with Magical Games & Sports, but the secretary on that level wore short skirts and talked too much during sex.

It wasn't until earlier this afternoon that he'd decided to check the races out on his own time, though, and he was glad that he did. Despite the low rent beer cups and the staggering amount of wizards in tank tops during the winter, Reed had made a bunch of galleons and convinced Ace to take his hand. Win-Win. She said something right before he apparated them away, but Reed couldn't hear it over the sounds of their bodies distorting and moving unnaturally through space. He didn't bring them far, but it might have seemed like the other side of the world as far as the lighting was concerned. The street lamps had gone dark, and silently Reed reminded himself of the budget cuts imposed on Diagon Alley.

Bringing her to a mostly empty part of the wizarding shopping district, Reed figured this was solid neutral ground. He wasn't trying to kidnap her, but he knew how quickly his attempt at saving her from being arrested could go sideways. And if the streetlamps hadn't been out, and half the shops this far down abandoned, it might have looked more like a safe landing ground than a seedy back alley.

Tara was a whirlwind of anger and worry and frustration and betrayal.. but mostly anger and she fought to hold on to that as she was squeezed through space along beside this man she barely knew. And already wanted to hex into next week.

As they materialized, Tara laid a hand on her stomach as it rolled, her vision swirling before settling and she whirled on him, her long hair shining darkly, her green eyes flashing with fury as she ripped her hand out of his grasp and pushed him hard on the chest with both hands before bringing up her wand and pointing it at him. "What the fucking hell was that?" she shouted, her chest rising and falling quickly, catching her breath from the apparation but still wired from the raid she almost got caught in.

"Did you set that up? How did you know that was going to happen?" she demanded from him. Every cell in her body screamed 'enemy' and she was kicking herself for not knowing better. Still, her broom. Shit. How was she going to get that back. Would she even get that back. No, she wouldn't think that yet. As she breathed hard, she glanced around but refused to lower her wand. "Where the hell are we? And who are you?" she demanded again, her voice hard, now asking the questions she should have asked all along. She had been too enthralled with herself for winning tonight that she had been a damn fool.

Then she touched her hip and her face twisted in anger even more. She cursed heartily as she realized her winnings were gone.

"Don't lose the plot," Reed told her to calmn down while he brushed a fleck of something off of his suit. Apparating was worse than the floo sometimes, especially when you started off in the middle of field. He was sure he'd have to spend twenty minutes charming the dirt off of his loafers when he returned home tonight.

"No I didn't plan it, I just caught wind of it." Checking his watch again he sighed, "You should be thanking me." And reed had some ideas about how she could do just that, but he wasn't keen on getting hexed into next week, so he kept those thoughts to himself for now.

"We are in London, can't you tell? Reed spun around to face her now, making eye contact for the first time since she had started assaulting him with questions. Reed answered some of them, but left others open ended. He didnt want her to know what he did, that would ruin all the fun.

"Why are you so pissed, I just saved you from getting arrested?"

Tara haaated that tone he was using. Like she was a child, like she didn't know that he had been in on whatever the hell had just happened. "Thank you?" she repeated, her brows flying up as she half-scoffed, half made a sound of disgust. "And what would I exactly be thanking you for? Seems like you shouldn't have been there either, unless you were the one planning it!" she seethed back at him, anger and frustration rolling off her.

She tried to take a breath, but she couldn't. She really couldn't as she thought about the race ring and what this might mean for her long term. And her fucking broom. Dammit! He met her gaze and she could tell he didn't care, he thought this was all a game, a mere moment of entertainment before he went on his way. "You just saved me?" Tara said slowly, every word dripping with disbelief. "You're the one who caused it," she growled just before she moved.

It was more of a reaction rather than an intention, but quicker than a viper, quicker than she had flown tonight, she threw a hex at him with a slash of her wand through the hair. One of her specialties, it resembled a broken nose, and any wizard worth their weight would be easily be able to defend against it with a basic shield charm, but she really hoped it found its mark.